What started as a blazing inferno of promise for the Montreal Canadiens has fizzled into a smoldering mess. The Habs, once igniting the NHL with their explosive start, have now plunged into a chilling four-game losing streak that’s exposing deep cracks in their foundation—and experts warn the worst may still be ahead.
The skid began with a brutal 7-0 shellacking at the hands of the Dallas Stars, followed by a 5-1 drubbing against the Los Angeles Kings. Even in their closer defeats—to the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets—the Canadiens couldn’t stem the bleeding. Over these four nightmarish outings, they’ve surrendered a staggering 19 goals, ballooning their season total to 66 conceded. That’s the third-worst mark in the Atlantic Division, a grim stat made even uglier by the fact that no team in the division has played fewer games.
On Wednesday’s gripping episode of *Daily Faceoff LIVE*, host Tyler Yaremchuk teamed up with co-host and ex-NHL netminder Carter Hutton, plus former NHL video coach Steve Peters, to dissect the defensive disaster unfolding in Montreal. The conversation painted a vivid picture of a team teetering on the edge, their early-season magic evaporating under the weight of glaring vulnerabilities.
Carter Hutton kicked things off with a mix of admiration and alarm: “We talk about skill and talent with the Montreal Canadiens, right? This is a team loaded with young, electrifying players. When you watch them, it’s unreal—the speed ramps up, the skill shines. But right now, it’s all trending in the wrong direction. What’s standing out in their game that’s fueling this downturn?”
Steve Peters didn’t mince words, highlighting the stark contrast between the Habs’ hot start and their current freefall. “It’s a tale of two seasons so far,” he said. “Early on, [goaltender] Dobes was lights-out, kicking off with a 6-1-2 record, a 2.71 GAA, and an .898 save percentage. But that’s flipped—he’s not delivering those heroics anymore, and it’s costing them big time.”
Peters dove deeper into the core issues plaguing the Canadiens: “This squad thrives on pace; they’re built for fast, offensive fireworks. But defensively? I’m not convinced they’re sturdy enough to hold the fort. The real worry is their two-way game—can they balance that blistering attack with solid defending? Long-term, I fear they might not have the chops to play both sides of the puck effectively.”
As the Habs’ once-promising structure crumbles, the slump shows no signs of easing. With defensive lapses mounting and confidence waning, the question looms: Has Montreal hit rock bottom, or is this fiery descent just getting started? Fans and analysts alike are holding their breath, hoping for a spark to reignite the flame before it’s too late.