After blazing through the NHL as one of the league’s best teams since mid-December, the Canadiens have cooled off recently. A gruelling schedule has undoubtedly played a part, but fatigue seems to have crept in, leaving the team a step behind their earlier sharpness.
The Playoff Picture: A Tight Race
Heading into today’s action, Montreal sits two points out of the final Wild Card spot and trails the Senators by three points for third in the Atlantic Division. The playoff race is a crowded one, with eight teams separated by just six points, all battling for a shot at two or three postseason berths.
Gorton’s Take: Decisions Looming Ahead
Speaking on The Sick Podcast – The Eye Test, Canadiens’ VP of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton hinted that the organization is closely monitoring the team’s performance leading up to the 4-Nations break, which begins after February 9th’s games. His comments suggest management is weighing whether to reward the team with reinforcements for a playoff push.
“If there’s an opportunity to help these guys, they deserve it. We’ll see what happens […] leading up to the Four Nations break. If we can help them along, we’ll look for that,” Gorton said.
Upcoming Schedule: A Rollercoaster of Challenges
This week’s schedule is light, with only two games, but the quality of competition is no cakewalk. The Canadiens face the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild—two strong and physical teams—before a chaotic stretch begins next week.
The California road trip will see the Habs play three games in four days, capped off by a tough matchup against the Kings. Afterward, they return to Montreal for back-to-back matinee games against the Devils and Lightning before finally getting a much-needed break.
Here’s how the schedule shakes out:
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
| Tue, Jan. 28 | vs Winnipeg | 7:00 PM EST |
| Thu, Jan. 30 | vs Minnesota | 7:00 PM EST |
| Sun, Feb. 2 | @ Anaheim | 4:00 PM EST |
| Tue, Feb. 4 | @ San Jose | 10:30 PM EST |
| Wed, Feb. 5 | @ Los Angeles | 10:30 PM EST |
| Sat, Feb. 8 | vs New Jersey | 1:00 PM EST |
| Sun, Feb. 9 | vs Tampa Bay | 1:00 PM EST |
While this week’s schedule is light in terms of games, it’s anything but easy when considering the quality of opponents. The Jets are among the NHL’s top teams, and the Wild bring a big, physical style of play that will challenge the Canadiens.
The California swing offers less formidable opponents, but the schedule will be grueling, with three games in four days. The Kings, the toughest of the trio, await as the third opponent in that stretch.
Afterward, the Canadiens return to Montreal for back-to-back matinee matchups before finally getting a much-needed break.
The Importance of Staying in the Mix
For this young Canadiens squad, playing meaningful games into February is a crucial step in their development. It’s a sentiment echoed by management, the coaching staff, and the players themselves.
The upcoming seven games will play a significant role in shaping Kent Hughes’ trade deadline plans. Whether the Canadiens sell off pending UFAs or add pieces to their roster will depend largely on how they perform before the break.
Once the team returns to action on February 22nd with a visit to Ottawa, the Canadiens’ path forward—and the makeup of their roster—may change based prior to trade deadline based on their performance up until the break.
