The Habs just sent a serious message...

It just keeps getting better for Montreal. 4-0-0 on a road trip without Nick Suzuki, without Ivan Dimitrov, and even in this game without Mike Matheson. His new 1C, Alex Newhook, puts on a show in a game where Jakub Dobesch finally gets back on track, but also Cole Caulfield continues his pace to get another 50 goals, picking up his 7th and 8th of the season. And what better way to cap it off? Than Phil Deneau getting his first and a nice little unselfish play from Jake Evans. This game was just a little piece of the bigger picture this year. A bigger picture that shows this Montreal Canadiens team has undergone a lot of adversity from last year's two years ago. The playoffs getting knocked out in the first round last year, knocked out in the Eastern Conference finals this year. Those injuries catching up after we were a pretty healthy team the year before Jesse to continue to play the way we've played. Without Nick Suzuki, without Ivan Dimitrov, and to beat teams like Dallas that a lot of people have pegged as a genuine contender this year, and to beat them handily, we got some stats to show that later, like, there's nothing but excitement flowing through my bones right now. This team is on another level. And rightfully so. Love that shout for Dewey at one scene there. But yeah, no, what a performance, again, from the Montreal Canadiens, but also from Jakub Dobesch, we have to say as well. Again, the Montreal Canadiens really are, again, looking like one of the very best teams in the NHL. Yes, we're going to talk that talk here on Habs. We feel like it's warranted. We feel like they're going to back it up as the season really continues. But we also felt like Jakub Dobesch would bounce back in this game. And he absolutely showed that, which again, is just so important for his confidence. But again, it helps so much the collective game, limiting those opportunities against getting a lead early. Again, like I know the Montreal Canadiens score, even if our shot totals aren't through the roof, just the fact that we're really limiting those shots just gives us such a stronger chance to win, just given our lineup and the type of players that we have. For the shots that we did face, though, we have to know that Jakub Dobsch is always at his best when he's challenging the shooter. And at the same, he was doing that here tonight while limiting just those extra movements. And that's really going to be the key for Jakub Dobsch. This season, can he continue to challenge? That's his strength. We saw that was big in the second period on the PK, where he's able to make some huge saves. But without limiting maybe those extra movements, like get some caught up position. Oh my God, that's just going to be so huge, Josh. But I just love what I saw from Jakub, the team, how really once we got the lead here tonight, I think the biggest takeaway is, The Montreal Canadiens just didn't take the foot off the gas for one second. They just kept going, and that's just so refreshing because that's something we haven't seen all the time, right, Josh? Yeah. We've seen, like, last year, even a very good team, they get the lead, and then they just start playing tentatively. They're on their back foot. They're not playing on their toes, the tip of those skates as much. The fact that they're able to do that against a very good Dallas Stars team, dare I say dominated them for many moments of this game, Extremely impressive to see and that has to do with so many players on the ice and they were all working as a cohesive unit and I think early this year it was like okay well maybe it didn't feel as like cohesive as it was before you know figuring out some new lines stuff like that. Ryder on the first line, all this stuff. And of course, with injuries, you're also going to, that's going to get thrown into a blender. Demi going out after two games, now Suzuki going out. But you're right to have. This level of dominance, keep the foot on the gas finally, right? Because even earlier this year, we're seeing this team learn faster than they have in years past where, okay, we saw what happened when we had two goal leads, we let up, not going to happen anymore. This team that used to have bad second periods to be the comeback kids last year, that's gone. They mentioned that on the broadcast too. It's like now it's just, we get the leads. We had two goal leads. I think now in 10 of 13 games or something coming in, most of our games, the vast majority we've had a two goal lead. We've lost some of them. But now every player is contributing so well. This is the expected goals percentage graph, as in when each player is on the ice at 5v5. How likely is your team to score a goal versus the other team? Look at how dominant this team was. And let's just look at some of the lines because, you know, we did see a bit of a shift in the lines today. Deep pairings, Sculley Carrier looked good. All the deep pairings were good. Dobson, I also thought, had a really good game. And I wanted to take just a very quick tangent here for Noah Dobson's game. Led the team with four shots on goal, 20 minutes time on ice, picked up two more assists. We said, Jesse, those points are coming. Throw in another hit, continuing his pace for his career high in hits, which I like to mention all the time. Anyway, with the forward lines, too, also thrown into a blender. But Alex Newhook coming out as the 1C in this game with Oliver Kapanen taking a step back. By the way, Kapanen, Kreider, Anderson, dominant line as well, as you can see here. And they looked pretty good when they were on the ice. Dallas couldn't get much going against them. nor our fourth line nor really any of our lines um but this just seemed to work a little bit better. Newhook was free to play with speed he had some unbelievably beautiful goals we'll play the animation just briefly. I love that Marty has not been afraid to tweak the lines um just to see what works best it's something that you know in the past you've had oh well we go with this goalie that goalie we should stick with this line especially with injuries you need to try new And tonight was just one of the examples. Even though Newey was not great on the face-off dot, which he has been so far this year, it was one of these times where it absolutely worked out for the best. And that's what's exciting about this Montreal Canadiens team is the depth they have. Guys like Alex Newhook stepping up big here tonight. This is a guy that needed to get going. Again, you have that level of collective game, and then you add a Nick Suzuki and Ivan Demidov. Again, this is going to be a blessing in disguise of knowing how to play without these players, still play well. When you throw them in the mix, that's just going to make your life nothing but easier. But again, just falling back again, I'm really working as a team. I think that that's what these injuries has forced the Montreal Canadiens to be able to do. But what was so important about tonight's game is getting guys, again, going like Jakub Dobáš, who we don't need. This was only his second win of the entire season. We know that he's a streaky goalie and we want to get him going. I believe he's going to ride that. Alex Newick, much in the same way, right? Like very important for him. Again, those two goals and obviously adding to a goal total that needed a little bit of love coming into this game here. He's able to do that. Rightfully so. More is going to come. He's a really talented player. And again, even guys like Phil DeNo, just shout out to Jake Evans, who had such a strong defensive game. Oh, yeah. Breaking up plays all over the ice all the time and a really classy act just to get to DeNo. We know it's all about just kind of getting that first one and then things come from there. And while we're sharing the love, Josh, like you mentioned earlier, Noah Dobson, I'm just going to double down on that. Like Noah Dobson with just the nice passes all over the ice. All like, this is a couple of games now where he's just like basically like just gift wrapping goals and just handing it to his teammates willy nilly. It seems like when he gets that speed going, the offensive zone, how dynamic and how scary he is just for the opportunities that he creates for his teammates is next level right now It's unreal not to mention the incredible defensive play on the two-on-one that led to that goal that he sprung, He had such a good defensive and offensive game. He's such an important part of this team when he's going at the level that we know he can get going at. I mean, you look here, it was also reflecting the game score. To be fair, a lot of the Habs defensemen had good game scores. Hudson was actually the lowest, but still Engstrom having a solid game. Carrier, Dobson, and one name that I think we do have to mention is Cole Caulfield. I feel we didn't mention him yet, but like, I mean, we kind of did, I guess a little bit, but he also picked up two more goals today, picking up his seventh and eighth goals of the season on three shots, only 18 minutes time on ice, but you didn't need him out there very much. Montreal was in the penalty kill a bit. He was out there a lot on the power play, wasn't out there, of course, for like the end of the game, empty net situation, because, you know, the pure 50 goals, that and the empty netters. Shout out Nathan MacKinnon. But Cole Caulfield, this top line is what I'm saying, right? New hook, two goals, Caulfield, two goals, Slav didn't score a goal, but he was still Factoring in on board battles, stuff like this. I mean, you know, again, if Caulfield can just get it going. One, without Nick Suzuki, it's incredibly impressive. But two, Jesse, something that we got to keep talking about. A power play that is absolutely anemic and is trending toward literally the bottom in the league, yet still Cole Caulfield is on pace for 50 goals. I mean, what else can you ask for? This guy is finding a way to get it done at the most important moments. And he's been there for a long time, but every single day he just keeps impressing. And in defense, you know, our PP did lead to a goal here today. They're shortly thereafter. It's definitely going to come because they're doing all the right things. But it really just, again, comes from guys like Cole Caulfield. Having a nose for the net, again, like Alex knew, if they're just going to the net and good things were happening. And the thing about Cole Caulfield is just give him any type of space. And he's just putting it at the back of the net against elite competition here tonight. So, so phenomenal just to see him again. I would just want to highlight, like, what a leader he is for this team. Sometimes you see him on the bench, he's talking with Slav, and I just love how he's really all business. He brings that culture, he got the A that he's been wearing recently. You know, he's been showing a little bit of love recently with Nick Suzuki being out. And I just think that that's so right that he gets that reward in that way, which is a little bit of that leadership position. Because, again, I just find he finds that right balance between culture. He's the first guy to celebrate his teammates. But isn't it fair to say as well, Josh, and, like, let us know in the chat, Like, he's serious when it comes about this team to winning. He's on, like, he knows there's a time to joke and laugh with Slav on the bench, but also, like, a time to be serious and, like, hone in on the game. And I really love that about Cole, and I think that that's truly what we need to win a Stanley Cup here in Montreal. And I love after the game, too. Yeah, he's joking with Jacob Fowler. He seems to be friends with everyone, but you're right. Like, when he's on the ice, he's so locked in. Like, he's the golden retriever. People always talk about it, but, like, you see him coming down the wing. He's not smiling. He's staring. Daggers into your soul and he's about to rip a top corner like it's it's unreal to watch him play but like this whole team is just so exciting we got a little list for you just in case you guys needed a list not that you need one here are just a few things right 4-0 on the road trip with a plus nine goal differential over those four games plus three tonight incredible unreal Dobes back on track Fowler I assume we'll see Fowler Saturday night against Pittsburgh. I would be very surprised if we didn't, but it's good to see Dobes back on track. Demi, Jesse, we're in week four of the two to four week timeline. So early next week, we'll be at that total of four weeks. So he's coming back soon. All these wins came with a depleted roster. All these wins came basically without much power play success, though. You're right. There was a couple of goals like the Bolick one and even one today where it's like. Sort of part of the power play, but not officially. All those things put together, and the Montreal Canadiens still managed to go 4-0. I mean, I don't know what the expectations are now, but I'm ready to take first in the Atlantic. I just, I can't wait. Tomorrow versus Pittsburgh, the first home game back in a while too. I hope these guys' legs are ready to go. And the reason for the perfect road record here is, again, the depth of the team at the forward, at the defense. We had some calls even with Matheson being out. They got a goaltending with Dobes. Like, we're just going to say there is going to be a goaltending controversy in Montreal. We've been talking that talk for a long time. They're just both really good. They're going to find... Fowler's going to continue to win because that's what he does. Jakub Dobesh is... Very good goalie as well. He's going to find his game. It's just a matter of time of when and the level of intensity that really that controversy gets to. These are just two good goalies. They're going to battle it out. Get your popcorn because it's going to be a ride to really get to watch this and see as they battle it out all of the betterment of the Montreal Canadiens. Yeah, like basically you're going to lose your spot if you're not putting up a .910, .920 save percentage, basically, like which is crazy to say. And also, we got to mention, What is going on with Montembeault? That's been, like, so silent on the back burner. His injury timeline, like... Anyway, maybe we won't think about that for now. That'll do it for this episode, though. Thank you so much for tuning in every single day, and don't you forget, we got a big goal of 30,000 subs by the end of the calendar year. You guys have been crushing it. Thank you so much to every one of you that tunes in every day, and especially those of you who tune in to the end of all these videos. I'm Josh Kaufman, my co-host, Jesse Paglia. We'll catch you all in the next one.