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Canadiens Need to Start Playing Full 60 Minutes

Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki celebrates with teammate defenseman Lane Hutson after scoring a goal (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

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Canadiens Need to Start Playing Full 60 Minutes

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Edgar Chaput | Last updated Oct 19, 2026 8:45 AM ET

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The Montreal Canadiens survived another thrilling match on Saturday, vanquishing the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in overtime thanks to Cole Caufield’s heroics. The victory improved Montreal to 4-3-1. With nine points in their pockets, the club is nice and snug in an Atlantic Division logjam. There is always room for improvement, is there not? In Montreal’s case, it would be beneficial if the team played a full 60 minutes of hockey, something they have not done through eight contests.

Canadiens Play a Lot of Overtime

According to the Statmuse website, Montreal has already played in four overtime games in 2026-27. That puts them in second place prior to Oct. 18’s slate, only behind the San Jose Sharks, who have had a quintet of matches extend beyond regulation. Only four clubs have partaken in OT hockey four times or more; one of those is the Buffalo Sabres, whom the Canadiens have battled twice already. You guessed it: both required an extra five minutes.

Moreover, two of those four – including the first Sabres bout – required a shootout. One of those shootouts, played against the Detroit Red Wings, needed six rounds before Zachary Bolduc thought it good to finally end the debate.

Their lone failure after 60 minutes was on Oct. 3 away to the Pittsburgh Penguins. That ended 6-5, with Montreal earning its point by way of storming back from a 5-1 deficit in the third period.

More Hockey Risks Fatigue and Injuries

Sometimes what looks great on television and in the arena doesn’t bode well in the long run. The more hockey one plays, the higher the likelihood of injury, either via physical contact with an opposing player or simply due to fatigue. It might not happen on the night an OT session is played. Maybe the next morning during practice, or the following evening against the next opponent.

There was a sequence during Saturday’s extra frame against Buffalo that stood out. Very quickly after winning the faceoff, Montreal raced into the attacking zone. A bit of clumsiness ensued, and Lane Hutson carried the puck behind Buffalo’s net. Normally, this is prime real estate for a gifted passer when sides are engaged in 5-on-5 hockey or on a power play.

But this was OT, played 3-on-3. There were literally only two linemates to share the biscuit with: Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. With so much space and the opposing defence desperate to avoid making rash decisions that could decide the outcome, Hutson just stayed there, body in full attack mode, juggling the puck, waiting for something to happen. Neither Suzuki nor Caufield could simply skate towards their defender to receive a pass: they had Sabres players on them. It was a bizarre sequence that felt as if it lasted forever even though it was surely less than half a minute.

These things happen. It isn’t the end of the world. However, when one looks at the stats sheet and sees that Hutson leads the club in total ice time with a whopping 211:46, it would be nice if the team didn’t find itself in such situations as often as it does.

Suzuki is a remarkable iron man. He has participated in all of the team’s 82 regular season matches in five consecutive campaigns, from 2021-22 through 2025-26. What’s more, his average time on ice (ATOI) is always above 20 minutes. Given that his skill set is required during 3-on-3 play and that Montreal has played its fair share, small wonder the captain’s ATOI is slightly higher through eight games this season at 21:52.

When in overtime, the Canadiens want and need Hutson and Suzuki on the ice. That point itself is not up for dispute. But if Montreal comes out playing like zombies in the not-too-distant future, there might be a rational explanation.

The Rewards of a Complete Game

It’s not very complicated. Hammering a rival 6-0, or even just winning 4-2 or 3-1 with a relatively comfortable effort, has its benefits. For one, the stress of overtime is avoided, as is the extra legwork.

But perhaps just as important, it sends a message. The hockey club can efficiently handle its business and clearly look like the superior outfit. No questions asked or doubts. There is a relaxed, satisfied atmosphere that reigns in the dressing room after being on the positive side of a 5-0 smackdown.

Montreal has failed to accomplish this thus far. Granted, forcing overtime after trailing 5-1 against the Penguins was impressive, but why were they getting boat-raced 5-1 in the first place? Twice at home against the Sabres, they led 3-1, yet the visitors levelled the score in the third period on both occasions. The Detroit game was an iffier scenario, an outlier, if you will. A pair of goals were disallowed upon official review, not to mention a third in OT.

The opening night bout away to the Toronto Maple Leafs was made close in the final frame by the Leafs. On Oct. 14, the club visited the Washington Capitals and led 2-1 in the first period. Not only that, but they netted first, something else Montreal hasn’t done often this season. And yet, special teams proved to be their undoing, both when shorthanded and, frustratingly, on the man advantage. And, as argued by Ryan Spzorer, it can’t all be blamed on the injury list.

As such, it’s somewhat difficult to pinpoint who these Canadiens are. Cardiac kids who never panic or quit, or a team so inconsistent that the ups and downs are acutely felt within games? Montreal has plenty of time to figure this out. Even so, there may be reason to celebrate, albeit modestly, when the team earns its first two-goal victory of the campaign. Keep a bottle of bubbly ready if they win by three or more.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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