Arpon Basu

That last-minute lob pass by Lane Hutson into the neutral zone right onto the tape of Nick Suzuki was just incredible.

When it's not going well, bounces like that always go against you. Kaiden Guhle dumps it in, it hits the notorious Bell Centre Zamboni stanchion, bounces in front and Phil Danault puts it in. 2-0 Canadiens.

Oliver Kapanen with a nifty move in front scores his 20th of the season, hitting a performance bonus $$$. 1-0 Canadiens.

#OneAnthemGame

I write them in the order they run at practice. There’s no other meaning behind it.

Canadiens weekly notebook: A trade deadline post-mortem; blue-line imbalance needs to change Also in this week's Canadiens notebook, Patrik Laine's additional trade protection and a very familiar goal from Juraj Slafkovský.

Got into some of the reasons why, seeing as a change did not come by the deadline, a change was necessary on the blue line in the weekly notebook yesterday: www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Canadiens lines at morning skate:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher
Bolduc-Evans-Dach

Matheson-Dobson
Guhle-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier

Canadiens needed to firm up details on California trip. They return with the same task Montreal's road trip demonstrated that this young team has a lot of learning left to do if it wants to make noise in the playoffs.

A Canadiens trip through California that began with a focus on the details that lead to winning ends with the same focus, because those details were sorely lacking, win or lose. www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Canadiens survive a 6v5 and close out a one-goal win in Los Angeles.

Two goals and an assist for Slafkovský is his seventh career three-point game and establishes a new career high with 52 points this season.

🦂

It just wouldn't be a Canadiens game without a goal that probably should not have gone in.

Canadiens warmup lines in LA:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Evans-Dach
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Dobson
Xhekaj-Carrier

Dobeš
Montembeault

Canadiens come out for warmups and looks like lineup will be the same other than Jakub Dobeš in nets.

Canadiens are back to even on the season against an empty net, 11 goals for, 11 goals against.

Canadiens took a big swing at the deadline and missed, but the swing still told a story The Canadiens had the luxury of putting all their eggs in a big basket at the deadline, but that luxury won't last forever.

The Canadiens took a deadline home run swing.

They missed.

But the swing itself says more about where the Canadiens think they are than anything else.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

If the Canadiens move today, I would imagine it will be to add some ‘chien’. On that 👇

A bit of both, I’d say.

Canadiens have a clear ‘want’ as deadline looms; whether it is a ‘need’ remains to be seen The Canadiens have a lack of jam and management has a decision to make whether to pay now to get it or wait for the offseason.

On the Canadiens ahead of the deadline, and a French lesson. The word ‘chien’ technically means ‘dog’ but it also represents a mindset the Canadiens need to improve. Can they improve it internally, or should management act?

The clock is ticking…

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Canadiens forward lines at practice in Anaheim:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Evans-Dach
Anderson-Danault-Gallagher

Canadiens say Matheson is having maintenance day.

Mike Matheson is the only Canadiens player not on the ice for practice in Anaheim today.

In final game before trade deadline, Canadiens defensive deficiencies provide food for thought How will allowing seven goals in a loss to San Jose impact Canadiens management as they head toward the trade deadline?

The Canadiens’ first regulation loss in eight games was a defensive mess. With no games left before the deadline, you can’t overreact to one loss, but an exaggerated example of a season-long issue at least provides management with something to consider: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

😂

*Arpon (but thanks nonetheless!)

In final game before trade deadline, Canadiens defensive deficiencies provide food for thought How will allowing seven goals in a loss to San Jose impact Canadiens management as they head toward the trade deadline?

The Canadiens’ first regulation loss in eight games was a defensive mess. With no games left before the deadline, you can’t overreact to one loss, but an exaggerated example of a season-long issue at least provides management with something to consider: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Adam Gaudette into an empty net and the Sharks survive 7-5

This game has been overserved.

Sharks score on the power play, Kiefer Sherwood off a great pass from Kurashev, 6-5 Sharks with 3:26 to play

Only five teams have come back this season from three goals down or more in the third period to win: Florida, Utah, San Jose, Edmonton, Toronto.

Montreal looks to join that group tonight.