James Guillory-Imagn Images

Two positives and two negatives in Canadiens’ 3–1 win over Carolina

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 3:10 PM ET

The Montreal Canadiens found another way to get it done on Sunday, grinding out a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes to push their streak to five straight. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but Nick Suzuki did his usual thing, and Jakub Dobes stood tall in the net, so Montreal had just enough to pull out the victory.

Two Positives for the Canadiens in the Win

Positive 1: Nick Suzuki Led the Charge for the Canadiens

It was pretty obvious Nick Suzuki was the best player out there. He scored twice and added an assist to hit a new career-high with 91 points. He earned them the right way, too — going to the hard areas, driving the net, cleaning up loose pucks, and making smart reads coming through the neutral zone. When Suzuki is on like that, Montreal’s offence stays alive. They just keep pushing, shift after shift.

Positive 2: Jakub Dobes Gave His Team a Chance

Jakub Dobes was excellent again, making 34 saves and keeping his strong run going. That makes five consecutive starts with two goals or fewer allowed, and you could sense his steady presence when things got chaotic in the third period. Every streak needs a goalie who can settle the team down, and right now Dobes is doing a great job of that.

Two Negatives for the Canadiens in the Win

Negative 1: The Canadiens’ Puck Management Was Sloppy

This one could’ve gone sideways if not for Dobes. Montreal spent too much time chasing because of loose puck decisions. They turned the puck over in bad spots, missed clears, and gave Carolina extra zone time. Against a team like the Hurricanes, that’s playing with fire. It didn’t burn them tonight, but it easily could have.

Negative 2: The Canadiens’ Special Teams Were Still Uneven

Carolina struck first on the power play, and it felt a little too easy. Montreal did answer later with a man-advantage goal of their own, but the early penalty kill breakdown stands out. The kill settled in after that, but the bigger issue is discipline and execution — you can’t keep giving good teams those looks and expect it not to hurt you.

A Final Thought from the Canadiens’ Perspective

This is the kind of win coaches accept even if they don’t like it much. Your top players produce, your goalie plays great, and you leave with two points. After five in a row, suddenly, Montreal is sitting third in the Atlantic. They are two points ahead of Boston with a game in hand.

Here’s the reality with these streaks: they can mask some of the issues. Montreal needs three improvements. First, they need better puck management. Second, they have to stay out of the penalty box. Finally, they need tighter defensive play. If they can do those three things, hanging in the playoff race would be much easier. The foundation is there. It’ll come down to whether they can keep pushing when the games get a little harder.

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

More must-reads: