canadiens de montréal

Canadiens Heartbreak in Columbus: Effort High, Points Low as Injuries Mount

The Montreal Canadiens delivered one of their most spirited performances of the 2025-26 season on Sunday night, yet the final score reflected a harsh reality that has become all too familiar for the club. Despite a furious third-period rally and a dominant display of possession, the Canadiens fell 4-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, marking a frustrating end to a disastrous road trip.

For the passionate fanbase in Canada, this loss stings not just because of the standings, but because of the context. The team is currently navigating a brutal stretch of injuries that has decimated their lineup, forcing Coach Martin St-Louis to piece together a roster on the fly. While the effort is there, the results are not, raising difficult questions about the team's immediate future.

The Heartbreaking Loss in Ohio

According to verified reports from Le Journal de Montréal and La Presse, the Canadiens appeared dead and buried early in the third period, trailing 4-1 after surrendering goals to Kent Johnson and Zach Aston-Reese. However, the "never say die" attitude that St-Louis has instilled in the group took over.

The comeback attempt was spearheaded by the team's top offensive talents. Cole Caufield, looking dangerous all night, cut the deficit to two, before Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský added late markers to bring the Canadiens within a whisper of tying the game. Despite pulling the goalie and applying immense pressure, the equalizer never came.

Coach Martin St-Louis, speaking to reporters after the game, tried to focus on the process rather than the result. As reported by the Journal de Montréal, St-Louis noted that despite the loss, there was only one major disappointment in his locker room. While the coach didn't specify that disappointment publicly in the immediate aftermath, the narrative suggests it likely centered on the defensive lapses early in the game that put the team in a hole they couldn't quite escape.

A Brutal Update on the Injury Front

While the on-ice product is fighting hard, the off-ice reality is grim. The Canadiens released a flurry of injury updates late last week that has significantly altered the team's trajectory for the remainder of 2025.

The most significant blow is to forward Kirby Dach, who is expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks with a fractured foot. Dach has struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm, and this absence removes a vital center from the lineup, further thinning the team's depth down the middle.

The news gets worse regarding the defense corps. Kaiden Guhle, a cornerstone of the Canadiens' blue line, underwent surgery for a partially torn abductor muscle. He is projected to be sidelined for 8-10 weeks. Losing Guhle’s physicality and skating ability is a massive blow to the team's transition game and defensive stability.

Additionally, forward Alex Newhook is facing a four-month recovery timeline after undergoing surgery for a fractured ankle. As noted in supplementary reports, these injuries are piling up at a time when the team can least afford them, forcing the front office to scramble for reinforcements.

In response to the defensive depletion, the Canadiens recalled defenseman Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket ahead of the Columbus matchup. While Del Gaizo provides a stopgap solution, he represents a significant downgrade from the steady presence of Guhle.

The Historical Weight of the "CH"

To understand the current frustration, one must look at the historical context of the Montreal Canadiens. As the oldest professional ice hockey team in the world and a member of the "Original Six," the standard in Montreal is not merely participation; it is excellence. With 24 Stanley Cups to their name, the Canadiens are the most successful franchise in NHL history.

However, this legacy creates a heavy burden for the current iteration of the team. The young core—Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovský, and Guhle—is tasked with the massive responsibility of returning this storied franchise to its former glory. The current injury crisis is a test of the organizational depth and the resilience of this young leadership group.

Culturally, the Canadiens are more than just a hockey team; they are an institution in Quebec and across Canada. Every loss, especially one where the team shows promise but falls short, is dissected by a nation. The narrative of "almost" is becoming a sore point for a fanbase starving for a return to the playoffs.

Immediate Effects: Roster Scramble and Line Blender

The immediate impact of these events is a chaotic shuffle in the Canadiens' lineup. Coach St-Louis is forced to rely heavily on inexperienced players and is shuffling his lines nightly to find chemistry that simply doesn't exist yet.

The loss of Dach and Newhook specifically impacts the team's ability to roll three scoring lines. This puts immense pressure on the Suzuki line to carry the offensive load, which opposing teams are fully aware of and game-planning against. Defensively, without Guhle, the Canadiens are struggling to move the puck out of their zone with the same efficiency, leading to extended periods of defensive zone time and fatigue.

Furthermore, the team's penalty kill has suffered. Guhle was a key penalty killer, and his absence was felt on the Columbus goals. The reliance on call-ups like Del Gaizo means the team is playing a more "safe" defensive style, which often leads to being hemmed in your own zone—a recipe for disaster in the modern NHL.

The Road Ahead: Survival Mode

Looking toward the future, the Canadiens face a grueling stretch of the schedule. With key players out for months, the immediate goal shifts from chasing a playoff spot to simply staying competitive and developing the youth.

The next 4-6 weeks will be a defining period for the organization. Can the younger prospects step up and fill the void left by veteran contributors? Can the goaltending steal enough games to keep the team from tumbling down the Atlantic Division standings?

For Martin St-Louis, the challenge is managing expectations. As evidenced by his post-game comments after the Columbus loss, he is trying to keep the team focused on the effort and the process. However, in the results-driven business of professional hockey, effort eventually needs to be converted into points.

The Canadiens have shown they can battle with the best teams in the league, as seen in their third-period surge against Columbus. But until they can field a healthy lineup and tighten up their defensive structure for a full 60 minutes, they will remain on the outside looking in. For the fans in Canada, the hope is that this injury-plagued season becomes a building block for the future, rather than a wasted opportunity.