How will the Sabres respond to a raucous Montreal crowd with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen starting between the pipes in Game 4? Can the Habs' top line breakout, and take a stranglehold on the series? The TSN Hockey panel has more.
After getting a three-game look with the Leafs, William Villeneuve is performing well during the Marlies playoff run. In fact, the 24-year-old leads all defencemen in AHL playoff scoring. Villeneuve models his game style on that of Montreal's Noah Dobson.
Marlies goalies Artur Akhtyamov and Dennis Hildeby are drawing inspiration from seeing fellow 24-year-old Jakub Dobes emerge as a playoff star in Montreal. "Played against him a couple times in my rookie year in Laval and you could see something special there," said Hildeby.
What is Marlies goalie Artur Akhtyamov liking about his playoff performance? "I don’t know," he said with a smile. "Ask players or coaches. I hate myself." The 24-year-old Russian is a bit of a perfectionist, which has served him well as he's quickly climbed up the Leafs depth chart.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of Buffalo’s first-round series against the Boston Bruins, will get the start in Game 4 on Tuesday. He discusses getting the opportunity to get back in the net, and how he's stayed ready.
For the second time in the Stanley Cup playoffs the Montreal Canadiens have the opportunity to go up 3-1 against their opponent. The players discuss what they need to do to take a stranglehold on this series tonight in Game 4.
Ivan Demidov has yet to find the back of the net in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but he's been close quite a few times. Demidov jokes he might finally score a goal tonight against the Sabres, and Arber Xhekaj and Martin St. Louis are confident he will eventually break through on offence.
Arber Xhekaj discusses the Sabres' physicality in Game 3 and if he felt the Canadiens needed to send a message in that game that they're not going to be pushed around.
Ross Colton and Parker Kelly each scored in the third period, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves in his first start this postseason as the Avs put a stranglehold on the series against the Wild. Minnesota was outshot 20-5 over roughly the first half of the game by an energized Colorado offence. COL leads series 3-1.
Parker Kelly's first playoff goal ended up being the game-winner for the Avalanche, earning him ltimate Performer Powered by Stihl honours.
Nazem Kadri was a huge deadline addition for the Avalanche, and has delivered in a big way, picking up a point in every game in the series against Minny. Kadri was pivotal in Colorado's Stanley Cup winning team in 2022, so is he looking like the same guy as he did then? TSN Hockey analyst Cameron Gaunce shares his thoughts on this and more.
Do you no longer need a highly-paid, elite goaltender to win a Stanley Cup? Would Hurricanes veteran Brent Burns hoisting the Cup be the best moment since Alex Ovechkin in 2018? Was 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini the perfect choice to captain Canada at the World Hockey Championship? TSN Hockey analyst Carlo Colaiacovo shares his answers in Hot or Not.
Pierre LeBrun and Arpon Basu join Claire Hanna to share their thoughts through the first three games between the Canadiens and Sabres, the evolution of Martin St. Louis as a coach, lessons the Habs can take from their series against Tampa Bay, and more.
The raucous home crowd in Montreal was definitely an advantage for the Canadiens but Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said his team got off to the start they wanted, but could not maintain that level of play.
The Sabres squandered their home-ice advantage and are now looking to get a split in Montreal to head back home with an even series. Forward Alex Tuch was critical of his own game and said his team needs to come out flying for Game 4.
Canadiens defenceman Noah Dobson explains how he's feeling since returning in Game 7 against the Lightning from an upper-body injury, and describes what his first playoff game at the Bell Centre was like.
Canadiens forward Kirby Dach explains that teammate Cole Caufield is still finding plenty of ways to contribute even when he's not scoring at the pace he was during the regular season.
Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle expresses the confidence the team has in goaltender Jakub Dobes, who has backstopped the team to a series lead over the Sabres with back-to-back impressive performances.
Despite putting themselves in a good position up 2-1 in the series to the Sabres, the Habs discuss the importance of maintaining an even-keeled attitude and focusing on the task at hand.
Martin St. Louis, who was born in Laval, QC, describes what's it's like to be the head coach of the Canadiens amid their playoff run, and how he embraces the passion of Habs fans.
TSN Hockey analyst Carlo Colaiacovo calls Lane Hutson the most exciting NHL defenceman to watch on a nightly basis, and explains what puts the Canadiens blueliner among the league's elite d-men.
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