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Are the Canadiens Suddenly Canada’s Hottest Team?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 1, 2026 7:19 PM ET

If you follow the Montreal Canadiens, this was one of those games that just felt light. No stress, no grinding through ugly minutes—just a team that showed up ready to run the show. So, how good? Are the Canadiens the best team in Canada?

Montreal beat Washington 6–2, stretched their point streak to seven games, and honestly looked like a group that’s starting to believe in itself a little. Both Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki were on their games.

Caufield and Suzuki Led the Team Again

Cole Caufield came out hot. He scored 30 seconds into the game, which threw the Capitals off their game immediately. Nick Suzuki was everywhere. He put up a goal and two assists like it was easy. Mike Matheson and Kirby Dach also were on their games plays. And goalie Jakub Dobes was cool in the crease. He stopped 27 shots and looked like he’s starting to settle in.

Washington got a couple of goals from Alex Ovechkin. No surprise there. But the Habs didn’t give the Caps much else. Even when the game started to squeeze in the third period, the Canadiens handled the pressure.

Martin St. Louis talked afterward about trusting their game in those moments, and his team did. There was no panic or back pedalling. It was steady Montreal hockey to the finish.

Three quick hits from the Canadiens win:

Quick Hit 1. Cole Caufield Looks Like Himself Again

Caufield finally had that spark back—jumping on loose pucks, finding space, and turning chances into goals without overthinking it. Two goals built on pure instinct. When he’s playing like that, Montreal’s whole offence opens up.

Quick Hit 2. Nick Suzuki Hits Another Milestone

Suzuki hitting his 25th three-point game says everything fans need to know. He’s become the heartbeat of the team. Nights like this show how much he drives everything the Habs do. He controls the pace so smoothly you almost forget he’s still pretty young.

Quick Hit 3. Closing Out Games Is Becoming a Canadiens’ Strength

Closing out games has been a weak spot, but not last night. Washington made a push, and Montreal didn’t wobble. They got the empty-netter, added a short-handed one for good measure, and wrapped things up like a team that’s learning how to finish.

The Canadiens Are Looking Like Canada’s Best Team

With seven straight games collecting points, the Canadiens are starting to look like a group finding its stride. The stars are rolling, the depth guys are helping, and they’re showing some real progress in the details. It’s been a while since fans could feel this good about where things are heading—but right now, there’s a lot to like.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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