Montreal Canadiens: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Canadiens: The bench players got some ice time (and we know what to expect tonight)

The Canadiens didn’t hold a practice this morning. That said, since the bench players skated, we have some clues about tonight's game. And it comes as no surprise to report that we shouldn't really expect any changes.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

David Reinbacher Can Be the Answer to Canadiens’ Playoff Problem

The young core of Montreal has now made the playoffs in back-to-back years. It’s a Stanley Cup final rematch from 2021, when the powerhouse Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Canadiens in five games.

Juraj Slafkovsky News / Dose.ca / April 21

Juraj Slafkovsky: A former teammate pinpoints what wasn’t working

A year ago, David Savard was playing the final games of his career as the Canadiens were being dominated by the Capitals in the playoffs. A year later, the Habs' defensive corps is nearly the same (with Noah Dobson sidelined by injury), but the Montrealers are no longer getting dominated at all.

Nick Suzuki News / The Sick Podcast / April 20

Is Nick Suzuki The Best Habs Centre Since 1979-80?

During the Sick Podcast Post-Game show following the Montreal Canadiens’ Game 1 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tony Marinaro made the claim that captain Nick Suzuki is the best centre that he has ever watched with the Habs.

Tage Thompson News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Last 40-goal season by NHL team' quiz

How many of the most recent players to score at least 40 goals in one season for each NHL franchise can you name in five minutes?

The 'NHL hat-trick leaders since 2000-01' quiz

The 'Most goals in a Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz

The 'Most 5-point NHL games' quiz

Josh Anderson News / The Sick Podcast / April 20

Why Josh Anderson’s Performance on Sunday Will Set The Tone For The Rest Of The Series

The Montreal Canadiens got a huge win in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning thanks to Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat-trick. However, what forward Josh Anderson did during Game 1 deserves a ton of credit for helping the Habs get the win, and he also set the tone for the series.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in NHL history

There have been successful rookie seasons in NHL history, and there have been superior efforts worth celebrating time and time again. Here's our list of the 25 notable seasons from those with official rookie status, as deemed by the NHL, in reverse chronological order.

NHL News / Dose.ca / April 20

The Predators aren’t looking to rebuild: forget about Ryan O’Reilly in Montreal

Another season is coming to a close in the Bettman League. The offseason is slowly approaching, though we're hoping the Habs go deep in the playoffs. Among the issues to be addressed is the need for a second-line center.

Nick Suzuki News / Professor Press Box / April 20

The Suzuki Trade Spells the Beginning of the Habs Success

Funny how stuff ages. I was reading a sharp piece by Doug Stein at The Hockey Writers — “Nick Suzuki Turned a Bad Vegas Trade Into a Big Canadiens Win” — and it really got the wheels turning on just how much this deal has aged in Montreal’s favour.

Montreal Canadiens News / Professor Press Box / April 20

Canadiens Quick Hits: Slafkovsky, Dobes & Anderson

The Game 1 win by the Montreal Canadiens over the Tampa Bay Lightning gave fans some real storylines to chew on. Here are three quick topics from the win: a combo of stellar play from Juraj Slafkovsky and Jakub Dobes, and what’s next for Montreal.

Montreal Canadiens News / Daily Faceoff / April 20

The Montreal Canadiens mean business right now

It was a game for the ages for the Montreal Canadiens, who opened their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 4-3 overtime victory Sunday night.

NHL News / Dose.ca / April 20

Goals per game: Juraj Slafkovský is a completely different player in big games

Last night, the Canadiens beat the Lightning. In doing so, they took a 1-0 lead in the series… and stole home-ice advantage. And in the process, they sowed doubt in the minds of the Lightning players.

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / April 20

How the Canadiens Flipped the Script on the Lightning in Game 1

When the Montreal Canadiens walked into Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday evening, most people figured it would be a lesson in experience.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL on ClutchPoints / April 20

Canadiens’ fatal flaw that will doom them in 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Montreal Canadiens have gotten off to the ideal start in the Stanley Cup playoffs. They were successful in their road debut against the powerful Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring the winning goal on a power play in overtime thanks to the vicious wrist shot of Juraj Slafkovsky.

Juraj Slafkovsky News / Dose.ca / April 20

Juraj Slafkovsky praised Martin St-Louis after his hat trick

Juraj Slafkovsky deserves credit. He made the difference at a crucial moment last night in overtime when he scored his third goal of the game to give his team the win.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'NBA minutes-per-game leaders' quiz

The 'Stanley Cup Playoff hat-tricks' quiz

The 'Most NBA-debut points by NBA team' quiz

The 'Multiple 200 three-pointer seasons' quiz

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / April 20

Clues about the lineup the Canadiens will use tomorrow

Following last night's game, the Canadiens announced that there would be an optional practice early this afternoon. And you know what? Optional or not, all the players who took part in yesterday's game were on the ice today.

Oliver Kapanen News / Dose.ca / April 20

Oliver Kapanen: From second-line center… to 8 minutes of ice time last night

Oliver Kapanen has turned out to be a pleasant surprise this season. He played second-line center for most of the season and did a pretty good job. Kapanen still scored 22 goals as a rookie, which is no small feat.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / April 20

Bookmakers aren’t giving the Canadiens their due

The Canadiens won the first game of their first-round series. They will therefore do no worse than they did in 2025, when they lost in five games. Jon Cooper, speaking rationally, summed up his team's situation well: the Lightning must now win four of their next six games if they hope to advance to the next round.

Kirby Dach News / Dose.ca / April 20

Size matters (except for Dach), Shane Who, and USA! USA! USA!

The Canadiens kept their momentum going yesterday in Tampa Bay. They overcame one-goal deficits twice and managed to defeat the Lightning on the road, even though the Lightning outshot the Canadiens (23-19).

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / April 20

Juraj Slafkovsky has made us forget all about Josh Anderson (and that’s just fine)

After the first half of the Canadiens' game yesterday, what were we saying? We were saying that Josh Anderson was definitely back in playoff form. That through his physical play and offensive production, he was carrying the Canadiens (almost single-handedly) to new heights.

Kirby Dach News / Dose.ca / April 20

Gilbert Delorme fell off his daughter’s roof (but he’s on the radio this morning)

When Gilbert Delorme criticizes a player like Kirby Dach (for example) for not giving it his all, we know he's not just talking out of thin air. Why? Because when he played, he always gave it his all.

Montreal Canadiens News / Yardbarker / April 19

Canadiens' Slafkovsky makes history with first career playoff hat trick

Canadiens hero Juraj Slafkovsky makes history with first career playoff hat trick

Slafkovsky's trifecta of goals resulted in the first playoff hat trick of his young career.

Game 1 hat trick could be start of Juraj Slafkovsky's playoff breakout for Canadiens

Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky scores 3, including OT, to top Lightning

The 'Stanley Cup Playoff hat-tricks' quiz

NHL News / Stadium Rant / April 19

Montreal Canadiens Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Slafkovský Overtime Goal Secures 1-0 Series Lead

The Montreal Canadiens opened their 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff run in dramatic fashion, skating past the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling Game 1 that needed overtime to decide a winner.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / April 19

Slafkovský Delivers Signature Game 1 Performance in Canadiens’ OT Win

The Montreal Canadiens couldn’t have scripted a better start to their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. A 4-3 overtime win on the road was as close to the definition of a “perfect playoff game” as the Canadiens might get.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / April 19

Slafkovský’s Breakout Moment Arrives for the Canadiens

When the Montreal Canadiens‘ young forward Juraj Slafkovský was first trying to find his footing in the NHL, head coach Martin St. Louis used a pretty fitting comparison — the GPS app “Waze.” The idea was simple.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / April 19

What About the Habs Lane Hutson Makes Him Elite?

Lane Hutson put together a breakout season, and it feels like half the NHL still hasn’t caught up yet. The numbers are right there in plain sight. He has put up 78 points (fourth among defensemen), 12 goals, 66 assists, 124 shots, and nearly 24 minutes a night.

Montreal Canadiens News / Daily Faceoff / April 18

Canadiens’ young core will be leaned on during Stanley Cup playoffs

The Montreal Canadiens have made their way back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second season in a row and enter with dreams of ending Canada’s Stanley Cup drought.