Canadiens’ shaky start on defence puts focus on Guhle and Kapanen

The Montreal Canadiens entered the 2026–27 campaign looking to build on last year’s progress, but their first week has exposed a familiar concern: keeping pucks out of their net. Through three games, Montreal has given up 14 goals, ranking near the bottom of the league defensively and behind only the Philadelphia Flyers among Eastern Conference teams. The sample is small, yet the nature of those goals has raised red flags.

Turnovers and coverage breakdowns at the heart of the problem

The early issues have less to do with pure defensive talent than with execution. The Canadiens are repeatedly putting themselves under pressure with costly giveaways. Failed exits and risky passes are turning into quick-strike chances the other way, leaving opponents time and space around Samuel Montembeault and his fellow goaltenders.

In their own zone, Montreal’s man-to-man coverage has not been sharp enough. When one player loses track of his assignment, the rest of the group is forced to scramble, opening seams elsewhere. That has led to opposing forwards slipping into soft areas, winning battles near the crease and pouncing on second opportunities around the net.

Head coach Martin St. Louis does not necessarily need to overhaul the defensive structure three games into the season. The priority is to restore the details that allowed the system to work down the stretch last year: cleaner breakouts, fewer unforced turnovers, more communication and a stronger commitment to individual responsibilities in the defensive zone.

Past blueprint offers hope for a turnaround

Montreal has dealt with many of these same flaws before. At times in 2025–26, turnovers and inconsistent coverage produced similar stretches of loose play. The encouraging part for the Canadiens is that they eventually tightened things up, became more comfortable within their system and carried that progress into the playoffs.

That late-season version of the team is the model they need to rediscover. With ample offensive talent on the roster, simply cutting down on the number of opportunities they hand to opponents could dramatically change results. Limiting self-inflicted mistakes would reduce the workload on the goaltenders and allow the attack to dictate more games.

Guhle and Kapanen nearing return to bolster defensive game

Help appears to be on the way. Jeff Gorton has indicated that defenceman Kaiden Guhle and forward Oliver Kapanen could both be back in the lineup within roughly a week. Guhle’s absence has been particularly noticeable; he brings a shutdown element that is difficult to replace, taking on tough matchups, defending entries, winning battles and steadying more offensive-minded partners. His presence would also let St. Louis slot his pairings into more natural roles.

Kapanen’s potential impact should not be underestimated either. While he will not single-handedly solve Montreal’s defensive issues, he offers a responsible option down the middle who can help control play, support breakouts and make smart decisions through the neutral zone. As the Canadiens are being reminded early, team defence is not just about six blueliners; it requires committed support from the forwards as well.

Three games are not enough to define what the Canadiens will be defensively in 2026–27, and this early run of 14 goals against does not erase the optimism around the group. It does, however, underline an area that demands immediate attention. Montreal has already shown it can correct these specific problems. Now the challenge is to do it again before bad habits take root.