Welcome back to PuckTalk MTL for a detailed Montreal Canadiens post-game breakdown after a heartbreaking overtime loss.
In this episode, Coach K analyze exactly what went wrong as the Habs dropped crucial points during the 2026 NHL Playoff Push against the New York Islanders.
Kosta breaks down the overtime sequence, defensive zone coverage, communication issues, and puck management mistakes that led to the game-winning goal. Was it a structural problem, a missed assignment, or simply a high-risk decision at the wrong time? We dive into gap control, backchecking effort, and situational awareness to uncover how Montreal allowed momentum to shift late.
Beyond the decisive moment, he examines the Canadiens’ overall defensive structure, goaltending support, special teams execution, and coaching adjustments. With every point magnified in the standings, this loss carries real implications for Montreal’s playoff hopes. For Islanders fans, we look at how New York capitalized on opportunity and executed under pressure. For NHL and hockey fans, this breakdown highlights how razor-thin margins define playoff-style games.
If you’re searching for Habs post-game analysis, Canadiens vs Islanders breakdown, or insight into late-game defensive lapses, this episode delivers clarity and accountability.
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0:00 – Show Start
1:09 – Game Highlights – Habs Finished This One On Their Heels
7:43 – Coach K’s Game Report – Why Was Xhekaj Not Used More?
10:29 – Playing Defensively Killed The Habs
12:47 – This Wasn’t Danault Best Game..By A Long Shot!
14:44 – Habs PP Needs To Stop Focusing On Scoring From The Goal Line
17:11 – Report Recap – There’s Still Work To Do
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In every episode, Kosta Papoulias takes a deep dive into the latest Montreal Canadiens news involving Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes, Martin St Louis.
Dans chaque épisode, Kosta Papoulias analyse en profondeur les dernières nouvelles des Canadiens de Montréal concernant Ivan Demidov, Patrik Laine, Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno, Jake Evans, Zach Bolduc, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, Habs Defencemen, Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Sam Montembeault, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble, Alex Carrier, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kent Hughes et Martin St Louis.
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6 Comments
Heartbreak or reality!
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear! Hughes’ misguided loyalty to Montembeault has to end !
Stirling analysis, Coach. 👍
Frustrating to watch victory slip away.
The pattern of toxic second periods continues, it seems…
Islanders were good, though – more solid than I expected, that Schaefer kid is something else, outshone Hutson in this one.
Agreed on Xhekaj. 👍
Good on Caufield for breaking the Sorokhin spell.
Disappointing, looked pretty good after all in the first half of the game.
Great reads! …re-45 being a bit small and porous. 5-11, 175 lbs….can’t handle Anders Lee or Horvat, fronting isn’ doing it.
72 also had very good stats. He needs minutes to build for playoffs. Trade 45 & 47. 56 and 64 are in the wings,
24’s reacquisition was a stretch. when they have face-off depth centers, at low cost, including the prospect, 62.
Isles should be a beatable team, but Roy has them on group-think that surpasses skill.
I am going to watch Roy’s pressers to see if and what he reveals.
If Carrier is in the top six, Montreal is going nowhere.
Few points: 1) Monty looked sharp and done some great saves. But no win for him again😢 Dobes adds wins. Confidence? 2) Arber played really well. Made one visible mistake. He needs to be played. 3) I dont see how Dach could be first lane wing for Suzuki and Cole. Your thougths? 4) Newhook great game after so many months. 5) Guhle solid, but i still expecting a bit more from him. 6) Isles are really strong team. Shaefer elevate them on another lvl. 7) Heineman back! 8) Love how Dobson paid respect to the team which drafted him. 9) Your show needs to be all over the YouTube. 10) Is Suzuki overplayed? 24min? More balance to the top 6 line?
You are right on Coach… I’m wondering more and more if the coaching staff has a blind spot considering Arber and their need to utilize this guy… Carrier made me so ticked …. He looks like he’s covering his man but he is merely increasing another layer of screen in front of Monty or whoever is in net… they better wake up because this will be play off hockey from here on… and if they think for one moment that they will get into the playoffs without fixing this and increasing Arber ice time to 15 min and coaching the rest of the D to at least take away the opposition’s sticks in front -they better think again… the boys were not ready for 60 tonight over all… but it was good to see them back at it though – wasn’t it … good show Coach