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Canadiens: Three things that didn’t work yesterday

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Jan 23, 2026 10:37 AM ET

Yesterday, the Canadiens didn’t play a bad game (getting at least a point in the standings wouldn’t have been a robbery), but they didn’t play a great game either.

Let’s face it: he was good in the second half. But in the first period and at the start of the second, the Habs struggled to play the game the right way.

And that sank Martin St-Louis’s men.

That was undoubtedly the first factor in yesterday’s defeat. After the game, Martin St-Louis spoke in particular about the forecheck, which wasn’t up to scratch at the start of the game.

This gave the Sabres a clear 3-0 lead, and made the difference in a game that ended 4-2 in favor of the visitors. The Habs can’t always overcome delays…

We dug ourselves too big a hole” -Martin St-Louis https://t.co/7f4VpQCwdP

– 98.5 Sports (@985Sports) January 23, 2026

Another factor working against the Habs is the fact that Kirby Dach needs to return to form on the club’s top line. And the recipe isn’t really working.

In fact, right now, he’s having trouble getting back into the rhythm.

Yes, the Habs’ first line scored both of the club’s goals last night (Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki found the back of the net), but one of them was scored while Zachary Bolduc was on the ice with NiCole.

For Dach, it really wasn’t that great.

Dach and the 1st line are a no-go. https://t. co/KysEX8ciL1

– Max Lalonde (@MaxLalonde_) January 23, 2026

Will Zachary Bolduc, who had a very good game (he must have felt the urgency of the potential return of the injured) and made his coach very happy, play on the first line tomorrow? Will Dach keep his place against the Bruins?

Will Alexandre Texier regain his place on the first line in Boston? If so, that would mean he’d be healthy and a player would skip his turn…

The third big thing I noticed that didn’t help in the loss was the fact that Jayden Struble didn’t have a great game AND that his presence forces Lane Hutson to play on his bad side.

Defensively, it wasn’t easy for many. Lane Hutson already looked better on the Sabres’ first goal… Noah Dobson didn’t give his full effort on the Sabres’ PK goal… Samuel Montembeault didn’t have the game of his career…

But Struble didn’t play just nine minutes by chance: it was really tough for the defenseman, who also forces Hutson to play on his bad side.

The #47 only played nine minutes yesterday. I fully expect to see Arber Xhekaj back in the line-up tomorrow.

The Habs have to keep Hutson on his natural side.

Handicapping one of the best players in the league doesn’t make much sense to me.

Yes, he can handle playing on the right, but he’s just above average in that role. He’s elite on the left.

Easy solution. https://t.co/hcp0o4wffL

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 23, 2026

extension

– I didn’t want to include it in my three elements of defeat because it’s no excuse, but the guys must be tired of seeing their sticks break. Lane Hutson, yesterday, must have been cursing at the goal in an empty net…

– The Canadiens won’t be holding practice this morning. There’s talk of a travel day in preparation for tomorrow’s game in Boston.

– The standings are tight in the Atlantic. Yesterday’s loss hurt, as the Sabres closed to within two points of the Habs.