When the Canadiens play their home opener against the champion Hurricanes Tuesday, it'll be anything but just one of 84 games. For coach Martin St. Louis, that means some difficult lineup decisions ar...

An old problem has resurfaced for the Canadiens. The team must figure out a way to avoid second-period letdowns if it wants to make another big push this season.

An old problem has resurfaced for the Canadiens. The team must figure out a way to avoid second-period letdowns if it wants to make another big push this season.

Even at 39, Sidney Crosby has shown already this season that he's not backing down from any challengers. Which speaks to his amazing staying power, writes Eric Engels.

If the Canadiens are to take the next step, they'll need guys like Josh Anderson and Alex Carrier to step up. They did just that in the opening win, but now the math gets more complicated. Eric Engel...

If the Canadiens are to take the next step, they'll need guys like Josh Anderson and Alex Carrier to step up. They did just that in the opening win, but now the math gets more complicated. Eric Engel...

Jakub Dobes is a defiant competitor, a guy blocking every puck like he’s batting away every barb of criticism that’s ever stung him. The Canadiens goalie showed what he's all about in a season-opening...

Jakub Dobes is a defiant competitor, a guy blocking every puck like he’s batting away every barb of criticism that’s ever stung him. The Canadiens goalie showed what he's all about in a season-opening...

The Montreal Canadiens have earned their high expectations heading into this season. Now, the task is to remain grounded, writes Eric Engels.

Martin St. Louis knows that if the Canadiens want to reach the ultimate goal, he must lead the way in both process and attitude. Eric Engels sits down with the Montreal coach to set up the season.

Martin St. Louis knows that if the Canadiens want to reach the ultimate goal, he must lead the way in both process and attitude. Eric Engels sits down with the Montreal coach to set up the season.

It might be nearly impossible for Kirby Dach to silence the critics, even though the negativity seems over the top. He faces a tough battle to make the Canadiens' opening-night lineup.

David Reinbacher, Florian Xhekaj and Samuel Montembeault are doing everything in their power to show they deserve meaningful minutes for the Canadiens. They all could help the club with their best gam...

It’s pre-season, but Ivan Demidov is already in mid-season form both on and off the ice. If he continues to do what he did on Saturday, Demidov could go from hard to stop to practically unstoppable, ...

So much of goaltending is about mindset, and it’s hard to imagine Jakub Dobes having a better one heading into his first official season as Montreal Canadiens starter. Eric Engels explains.

It might just be Day 1, but the Canadiens' top-six forward lines on Thursday made a lot of sense. Sportsnet's Eric Engels dives deeper into the early combinations.

The Canadiens have earned the hype. But this next step out of the rebuild is a huge leap, and we're going to find out if the Canadiens are ready to take it without tripping, writes Eric Engels.

Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are betting on their coach's "it-factor" to take the Canadiens from emerging team to Stanley Cup champion. Eric Engels addresses the new contract for Martin St. Louis an...

A $2.15-million, one-year contract for a six-foot-three, 232-pound, 35-year-old winger who has over 1000 games of NHL experience and is still producing at a reasonable rate is hardly a gamble.

A $2.15-million, one-year contract for a six-foot-three, 232-pound, 35-year-old winger who has over 1000 games of NHL experience and is still producing at a reasonable rate is hardly a gamble.

In what has turned out to be a fairly quiet off-season, chatter around Mike Matheson, Zachary Bolduc and Arber Zhekaj is flowing around the Canadiens these days, writes Eric Engels.

Newsy Lalonde with the Canadiens just sounds right. But this isn’t about the nickname originally given to Edward Lalonde. It’s about Derek ‘Newsy’ Lalonde bringing a wealth of experience to Martin St....

Newsy Lalonde with the Canadiens just sounds right. But this isn’t about the nickname originally given to Edward Lalonde. It’s about Derek ‘Newsy’ Lalonde bringing a wealth of experience to Martin St....

The Canadiens locked up a huge piece of their core with an eight-year Ivan Demidov extension on Wednesday. Eric Engels explains why this could turn out to be a big win for Montreal.

The Canadiens locked up a huge piece of their core with an eight-year Ivan Demidov extension on Wednesday. Eric Engels explains why this could turn out to be a big win for Montreal.

If you’re hoping for a big splash, we regret to inform you Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes won’t be making one in the unrestricted free-agent pool. Eric Engels says there are reasons to...

If you’re hoping for a big splash, we regret to inform you Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes won’t be making one in the unrestricted free-agent pool. Eric Engels says there are reasons to...

Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is confident he'll be able to execute a move in the coming days, weeks or months. Selecting Gleb Pugachyov with the No. 26 pick on Friday didn't weaken that position at all in...

Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is confident he'll be able to execute a move in the coming days, weeks or months. Selecting Gleb Pugachyov with the No. 26 pick on Friday didn't weaken that position at all in...

For the first time in a long time, the Montreal Canadiens are headed into the NHL Draft focusing much more on the present than the future.

For the first time in a long time, the Montreal Canadiens are headed into the NHL Draft focusing much more on the present than the future.

“I believe I should stop all of them.” Such was the mentality Carey Price carried throughout his career, from the world juniors, to the NHL, and now, to the Hall of Fame. Eric Engels looks back at th...

“I believe I should stop all of them.” Such was the mentality Carey Price carried throughout his career, from the world juniors, to the NHL, and now, to the Hall of Fame. Eric Engels looks back at th...

With the NHL Draft eight days away and trade rumours swirling, it's the perfect time to answer some pressing questions. Eric Engels gives his answers to some hot-button topics facing the Canadiens t...

With the NHL Draft eight days away and trade rumours swirling, it's the perfect time to answer some pressing questions. Eric Engels gives his answers to some hot-button topics facing the Canadiens t...

Nick Suzuki grew up idolizing the likes of Patrice Bergeron. Now, he's joined his ranks as a Selke Trophy winner — and on the same day teammate Cole Caufield won the Lady Byng, no less.

This shouldn’t be a particularly hard decision for Ivan Demidov, even if it will be a life-altering one.

This shouldn’t be a particularly hard decision for Ivan Demidov, even if it will be a life-altering one.

The pain of Brendan Gallagher's final months with the Canadiens won't soon heal. But he'll carry that feeling until the next opportunity to pull new teammates into the fight arrives as his lifelong pu...