Habs Wrap: Depth Supremacy, Path Least Travelled, Danault

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MONTREAL — It feels like every hour features more Montreal Canadiens news, and we’re all bound to miss a story or two. On Sundays, we recap the relevant NHL news you may have missed, to help you stay in the Canadiens loop.

Make sure you don’t miss any Canadiens news by signing up to our weekly newsletter! You can also sign up for various other NHL teams, or the daily newsletter covering the most exciting developments in sports.[Sportsnaut]

Montreal Canadiens News And Notes​

  • Veteran Phillip Danault is in a great position to help the youngest team in the league overcome a significant amount of adversity. In his press conference on Sunday, he repeatedly mentioned the teams are incredibly evenly-matched, putting the onus on his teammates to provide the best effort level of the season on Monday. [Canadiens – FR]
  • Head coach Martin St-Louis discussed the importance of bouncing back after the shambolic effort in Game 6.
Habs coach Marty St. Louis on game 7 tomorrow after a crushing loss last night:

“The obstacles in life come at different times. For us right now, it just came in the last 24 hours. Just gotta find a way to bounce forward.” pic.twitter.com/U5quC0EpYN

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 17, 2026
  • With a pair of wins versus the Ottawa Charge already banked, the Montreal Victoire are just one game away from excellence. The Walter Cup is a best-of-five series, giving Montreal three opportunities to take home the ultimate prize.
MAGGIE FLAHERTY LIVRE LA MARCHANDISE EN PROLONGATION

MAGGIE FLAHERTY DELIVERS IN OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/43vTY3p051

— xz – Victoire de Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) May 16, 2026
  • The Habs are one of the best teams in the NHL when it comes to dealing with adversity. On Monday night, it was Alex Newhook who played the hero role, again, clinching his second series in a row. The Newfoundlander has been one of the best important player in the playoffs, rising to the occasion when the Canadiens need him most. [Canadiens Highlights: Newhook Clinches The Series]
  • Behold! The return of a playoff classic.
Le retour de la pizza de Phil Danault pic.twitter.com/O0IsyY5VJU

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) May 19, 2026
  • Any time you end up on a list with Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson, Frank Mahovlich, and Henri Richard, you know you’re in great company. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to suggest they’re in better company now that Lane Hutson is in the list.
#FunFact: with an assist on Zach Bolduc's goal, #Habs Lane Hutson became the 5th #GoHabsGo player to record a 6 game assist streak during a single postseason joining Jacques Lemaire, Larry Robinson, Frank Mahovlich and Henri Richard!

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) May 19, 2026
  • Russ Courtnall, Claude Lemieux, and Yvon Lambert is a pretty darn solid list as well.
Alex Newhook became the fourth player in @CanadiensMTL history to score an overtime goal in #Game7. He joined Russ Courtnall (1992 DSF), Claude Lemieux (1986 DF) and Yvon Lambert (1979 SF). #StanleyCup#NHLStats: https://t.co/BVobN7WggFpic.twitter.com/sVVJtnr3uS

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 19, 2026
  • It may not have been a pretty goal, but there’s no denying Newhook has been clutch in these playoffs.
ALEX NEWHOOK!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Final!!!! #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 19, 2026
  • There are few things more enjoyable than watching a young team win exciting games.
Venez pour le but, restez pour la célébration

Come for the tally, stay for the celly#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/tBDX2XvmYL

— x – Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 19, 2026
  • The Habs won, so we don’t have to dwell on this play for very long, but it’s ridiculous that there was no penalty when the Sabres ran Dobes for the second time in the series.
Dobes gets run over (again, it's happening a lot in these playoffs).

No penalty. Of course.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/rnSi615H0q

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 19, 2026
  • It’s always fun to remember this is just the beginning of the potential dominance for the Habs. They still have a lot of work to do when it comes to roster construction, but they’re clearly in the midst of one of the most efficient rebuilds in league history.
The Montreal Canadiens are the youngest NHL team to advance to the conference final since the 1993 #habs, per @NHLPR.

Both teams with an average age of 25.8.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) May 19, 2026
  • With all due respect, which is a questionable amount, wanting to see your team lose rather than win is the epitome of being in denial.
I rather lose in the first round every year knowing we were the better team than fluking our way to a fraudulent conference finals appearance just to get swept.

— Adam (@TOSportsAdam) May 19, 2026
  • Prospect Filip Mesar scored for Slovakia in their 5-4 win over Slovenia at the World Championship.
Filip Mesar finds a way through from the blue line! ⚡ #MensWorlds#IIHF@hockeyslovakiapic.twitter.com/o3XXm2drux

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 19, 2026
  • There’s something absolutely fantastic about hearing calls in other languages. The French broadcast keeps producing incredibly energetic clips.
ALEX NEWHOOK MET FIN AU MATCH 7 EN PROLONGATION ET OFFRE LA SÉRIE AUX CANADIENS #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/zTDeWEqLcb

— The Icebreaker (@TheIcebreakerFR) May 19, 2026
  • There’s no doubt rookie netminder Jakub Dobes is enjoying a solid playoff run. He’s also in great company when it comes to winning a pair of Game 7s. Hall of Famer Ken Dryden and Jaroslav Halak are the only other Canadiens netminder to manage this impressive feat.
Habs goalies to win two game 7s in a single playoff year:

• Ken Dryden (1971)

• Jaroslav Halak (2010)

• Jakub Dobes (2026) pic.twitter.com/czMBrf9l48

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 19, 2026
  • If we filter the results a little further, only Dryden and Dobes have achieved the aforementioned feat on the road.
Rookie goaltenders in NHL history with multiple Game 7 wins on the road in one postseason

Ken Dryden (1971)
Jakub Dobes (2026)

End of list#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/dMyfEQr8zx

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 19, 2026
  • Speaking of Dobes, his confidence continues to grow, and his personality is really starting to shine in post-game interviews.
doby at the end of his espn interview:

“i was listening to you guys, looks like we’re the underdogs. so that’s perfect, we love to be the underdog.” pic.twitter.com/IIt76oMO40

— x – danielle (@thekentryclub) May 19, 2026
  • The Canadiens are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. It won’t be an easy match up, even if the Habs were victorious in all three regular-season games. The good news is the Canadiens tend to be at their best when they’re dealing with a lot of adversity. [Canadiens Vs Hurricanes Eastern Conference Final Preview: Underdog Status]
  • Canadiens fans have spoken! They have voted Newfoundlander Alex Newhook as the second-round MVP, for his six-goal performance in the series versus the Buffalo Sabres. That being said, several other players were worthy of praise for their effort. [Canadiens Fans Name Second-Round MVP]
  • The Montreal Victoire faced the Ottawa Charge in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Final. The Victoire emerged with a well-deserved 4-0 win, including a pair of goals from Abby Roque. Her second goal of the game, in particular, was a beauty.
Abby Roque scores a GREAT goal to give the Montreal Victoire a 2-0 lead vs. Ottawa in Game 4.

It was a jailbreak goal, too, getting MPP out of the box. pic.twitter.com/VMRqy25aNd

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 21, 2026
  • Head coach Martin St-Louis missed practice on Wednesday for personal reasons, but he’s not expected to miss Thursday’s Game 1 versus the Hurricanes.
#Habs GM Kent Hughes says Martin St-Louis will be re-joining the team in Raleigh tonight and everything is fine. His absence today is nothing like the family situation MSL had in 2024 when his son was in the hospital.

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) May 20, 2026
  • Ivan Demidov was not named among the most valuable players against Buffalo, but he still deserved credit for his series.
Watch Ivan Demidov cause Dahlin to turnover the puck, it leads to the series winning goal

He doesn’t get credited with an assist, but it’s a great effort in the defensive zone. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/QxRAQnWujK

— Wayne Hutson (@WaynoHutson) May 20, 2026
  • Hurricanes head coach Rob Brind’amour was quick to praise Montreal’s powerplay, which may shock a lot of Habs fans. But it’s a darn good powerplay, all things considered.
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour today on Habs PP1:

“They got dynamic players. All five of those guys in their own right are elite at what they do (Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov & Hutson). You put them together in those roles and I think they feed off each other… pic.twitter.com/GchP1FP6Mp

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 20, 2026
  • Speaking of respect from the other team, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal recognized Nick Suzuki’s exceptional status.
« Nick Suzuki est un joueur exceptionnel »

-Jordan Staal pic.twitter.com/LAVw7zOuL9

— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) May 20, 2026
  • Admittedly, it’s slightly concerning that David Reinbacher is dealing with a lingering knock, as he’s had a lot of injury issues, but he’s not expected to play any time soon. Better than he works out any issues now than in the regular season.
doby at the end of his espn interview:

“i was listening to you guys, looks like we’re the underdogs. so that’s perfect, we love to be the underdog.” pic.twitter.com/IIt76oMO40

— x – danielle (@thekentryclub) May 19, 2026
  • On the other hand, if injuries hit, I wouldn’t be surprised to see rookie Adam Engstrom counted upon to pick up a few extra shifts.
Adam Engström s’est bien débrouillé lors de l’exercice de 2 contre 1 en espace restreint.@DLCoulisses#GoHabsGo#GoRocket#Engstrom#NHLpic.twitter.com/m0SXFJE6Uz

— Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) May 19, 2026
  • Any time Michael Faber produces an essay on the Habs, our duty is to stop everything and listen.
  • Full marks to head coach Martin St-Louis when it comes to the open line of communication with the media and fans.
“I don’t want anyone to feel like they need to protect me, or our team. So whatever’s happening in the game – good or bad – come out there and ask me whatever you want. I’ll answer for it. I don’t want to be protected. And sometimes those interviews are more valuable when things… https://t.co/LR87AFnxxq

— Jackie Redmond (@Jackie_Redmond) May 22, 2026
  • Speaking of St-Louis, rarely does a panel take place without someone going out of their way to send some praise towards the Canadiens coach.
"It's incredible what he's done."

The panel credits Martin St. Louis' leadership as the Habs lead after two periods in Game 1. pic.twitter.com/WCWQZEueFq

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 22, 2026
Alexander Zharovsky, Matvei Polyakov and Mikhail Fyodorov are the nominees for the Alexei Cherepanov Rookie of the Year Award: https://t.co/JP55LZjb0p#KHLAwardspic.twitter.com/EtU7FEf4yF

— KHL (@khl_eng) May 21, 2026
  • While Montreal’s offence will be the talk to the town, we must give credit to the defensive setup, as they essentially did not give the Hurricanes any chance to mount a comeback in the third period.
The Canadiens allowed the Hurricanes to generate zero (0) quality scoring chances (all situations) in the third period.

That's how you close out a hockey game.

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 22, 2026
  • Ivan Demidov’s goal versus Frederik Andersen was eerily familiar.
2 Demidov
0 Andersen
pic.twitter.com/drBNtE0zac

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) May 22, 2026
  • Well, well, well. Would you look at that? Nick Suzuki is among the top points producers in the playoffs. Not bad for a player who is currently on a line that has yet to find its peak form.
With a 3 point game tonight:

Habs captain Nick Suzuki is now 2nd in NHL playoff scoring with 16 points pic.twitter.com/wxVFzGXXz7

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 22, 2026
  • St-Louis, Alexandre Texier, Jake Evans, and others met with the media following Montreal’s impressive win.
Écoutez les disponibilités médias suivant le match 1 de ce soir contre la Caroline

Tune in now to live postgame media ops following tonight’s Game 1 against the Hurricanes#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/d5oD7rWZYv

— x – Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 22, 2026
  • The Canadiens produced an impressive 6-2 win versus the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final. On top of receiving important offensive contributions from their depth forwards, the top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky enjoyed its best outing of the playoffs. [Key Reason Why Canadiens Managed Surprising Game 1 Victory]
  • The Habs built a quick 4-1 advantage in the first period, but their lead was at risk of collapsing when the Hurricanes took over in the second frame. Fortunately for the Habs, they put together one of their best defensive periods of the season to close out the game, refusing to allow the Hurricanes a single high-quality scoring chance at 5v5. That’s the sign of a young team that’s in the midst of maturing before our very eyes. [Dominant Third Period Evidence Of Maturing Canadiens Lineup]
  • The Hurricanes did not hit the ice on Friday. Rather, head coach Rob Brind’amour focused on video work following the one-sided loss in Game 1.
The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t skate on Friday after their 6-2 loss to Montreal in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Rod Brind’Amour on the decision: “That’s not what we need. Today we did practice you just didn’t see it. So there’s two different ways to practice. No… pic.twitter.com/oJT3UNop2J

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) May 22, 2026
  • Pittsburgh Penguins legend Sidney Crosby had nothing but great things to say about Slafkovsky. Crosby is currently at the World Championship, and while Slafkovsky is still busy with playoff hockey, Canada is set to face Slovakia.
Sidney Crosby, who’s following the NHL playoffs from the World Championships in Switzerland , on Juraj Slafkovsky:

“Slaf played great last game. A big guy who sees the game very well, has a great shot. I was impressed with how he deals with pressure.” pic.twitter.com/CdCPLDdH0U

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 22, 2026
  • Former Hab P.K. Subban is one of the few analysts to pick the Canadiens in their series versus the Hurricanes.
"There's a big, big difference between the skill level that's on the Montreal Canadiens compared to the Carolina Hurricanes. In this series, it's gonna take skill."@PKSubban1 is taking the Canadiens to win the East pic.twitter.com/9S5gWlo4if

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 22, 2026
  • As a French-Canadian, I’m not offended by the sign carried by this Hurricanes fan, but I do wonder how some would react if there was a sign in place that made fun of another ethnic minority.
Ceci est une affiche… discutable. pic.twitter.com/qlPPWwvhjw

— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) May 22, 2026
  • Hey, that’s not a fair comparison! Phillip Danault has actually enjoyed a little playoff success in the past. He knows what he’s doing!
For those of you keeping score at home:

• Brady Tkachuk in 4 games vs Carolina: 0 goals and 0 assists

• Phil Danault within 8 mins vs Carolina: 1 goal and 1 assist

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 22, 2026
  • Josh Anderson and Kaiden Guhle met with the media on Friday to discuss Montreal’s performance in Game 1. [Canadiens]
  • The Habs had a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 advantage in their series versus the Hurricanes, and thanks to a pair of goals by Anderson, they managed to tie Game 2 in the third period, but it was all for naught, as the Hurricanes beat the Canadiens 3-2 in overtime. [Canadiens Highlights: Anderson Scores Twice In Game 2 Loss]

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