About this episode
Montreal Canadiens sit at 9-3, but which players need to elevate their game to sustain this hot start? Arber Xhekaj faces mounting pressure as Jayden Struble emerges as a legitimate enforcer with strong defensive play, threatening Xhekaj's roster spot once Kaiden Guhle returns healthy. Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert break down the week ahead against Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, and Utah Mammoth, debating goalie deployment strategies for Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes. The hosts analyze Martin St. Louis's surprising line changes that moved Brendan Gallagher up to play with Kirby Dach while demoting Joe Veleno, and defend Jake Evans and Josh Anderson's third-line checking role against social media criticism. Key discussions include Nick Suzuki's leadership, Cole Caufield's scoring touch, Lane Hutson's development, and why Struble's fight with Nick Cousins sends the exact message this young Canadiens roster needs. Discover why the Evans-Anderson line's real value isn't measured in points and what Xhekaj must do to secure his future in Montreal. 0:00 Intro 1:16 Weekly forecast and upcoming games 2:48 Philadelphia Flyers matchup and goalie decision 4:25 Montembeault vs Dobes debate for Flyers 7:20 New Jersey Devils high-scoring matchup 9:00 Utah Mammoth game preview 10:15 Power play key to success 14:06 Gallagher moves to Dach-Bolduc line 16:16 Valeno's role and replacement level play 19:08 New lines impact on offensive production 23:14 Arber Xhekaj needs to be better 25:45 Struble stealing the spotlight from Xhekaj 28:01 Jake Evans and Josh Anderson's defensive role 30:52 Trivia question and closing remarks Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rugiet Visit https://rugiet.com/LOCKEDONNHL to get 15% off your first order. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch Take control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year. FanDuel Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.