The Montreal Canadiens closed out their 2025-26 home schedule Saturday night in a season that has been nothing short of a thrill ride. While the atmosphere at the Bell Centre remained electric, the Columbus Blue Jackets—fighting desperately for their playoff lives—spoiled the party with a 5-2 victory.
Despite the loss, the night was headlined by historic milestones, looming injury shadows, and a developmental bombshell regarding one of the team’s top prospects.
Wilde Horses: Caufield and Suzuki Chasing History
Even in a losing effort, the Canadiens’ top stars continue to provide «memories of the highest order.»
- Cole Caufield’s 51st: From a nearly impossible angle, Caufield rifled a shot that hit the joint of the crossbar and post to find the back of the net. It was his 51st goal of the season, keeping him firmly in the hunt for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He currently trails Nathan MacKinnon (52 goals) by one, though MacKinnon has three games remaining to Caufield’s two.
- Suzuki’s Century Watch: With an assist on the Caufield goal, captain Nick Suzuki reached 99 points. He is now just a single point away from becoming the first Hab to hit the 100-point plateau since Mats Naslund in 1986.
Wilde Goats: The «Letdown» and Second-Line Struggles
After the emotional high of clinching 50 goals for Caufield and 30 for Slafkovsky against Tampa Bay on Thursday, a dip in energy was perhaps inevitable.
- Defensive Lapses: Injuries to Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier have forced Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj into heavy minutes. The exhaustion showed Saturday; Xhekaj struggled on the opening goal, and a Struble turnover led directly to Columbus’ fourth.
- The Second Line Identity Crisis: The lack of a true second-line center is becoming a glaring weakness ahead of the postseason. Experiments with Alexandre Texier and Oliver Kapanen alongside Ivan Demidov have failed to produce results. The Demidov-Newhook-Kapanen combination has a dismal 43% Expected Goals share—a stat that won’t cut it in a deep playoff run.
- Goaltending: Jakub Dobes had his first rough outing in nearly a month. After being «awesome» for nine straight games, the physical and mental toll of carrying the net without a break finally caught up to him.
The Injury Ward: A Massive Blow to the Blue Line
The most concerning news of the night wasn’t on the scoreboard. Noah Dobson suffered what appears to be a thumb injury after taking a shot to the hand in the second period.
The club has officially sidelined him for two weeks, at which point he will be reevaluated. For a defender who eats up 25 minutes a night, Dobson is virtually irreplaceable. David Reinbacher has been recalled from Laval to fill the void, but with a first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning looming next Saturday, the loss of Dobson is a «massive blow» to Montreal’s tactical structure.
Wilde Cards: The Michael Hage Shocker
In a move that has stunned the organization and fanbase alike, top prospect Michael Hage has decided to return to the University of Michigan for his junior season.
Most insiders expected Hage to sign a pro contract following Michigan’s Frozen Four exit on Thursday. His decision to stay in the NCAA for a third year is difficult to parse from a hockey development standpoint, given he has dominated the college circuit for two seasons.
Why stay? Three theories are circulating:
- Education: A genuine desire to complete his degree.
- Family: His brother, Alex, is a Michigan commit for next year, offering a one-time chance to play together.
- NIL Money: The «Name, Image, Likeness» money in college sports is now rivaling—and sometimes exceeding—NHL entry-level and AHL salaries.
For the Canadiens, Hage’s delay creates a significant roster hole. If the team wants to be a «bona fide Stanley Cup contender,» the hunt for a second-line center to help drive play for Ivan Demidov just became the biggest storyline of the 2026 offseason.