Bolduc’s shootout winner sends Habs to D.C. on a high — Canadiens morning report

It wasn’t pretty, but the Canadiens got it done. On a busy NHL “Frozen Frenzy” night with all 32 teams in action, Montreal squandered a two-goal lead before pulling out a 4–3 shootout win over the Buffalo Sabres at the Bell Centre.

Bolduc plays hero after Habs let Sabres back in

Sportsnet reports that Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield each put up two-point nights in the victory, while Zachary Bolduc buried the deciding goal in the shootout. As Sportsnet notes, the Canadiens “hung on” for the win after letting Buffalo erase a two-goal deficit, a test of composure early in the season.

La Presse describes Montreal as having “pulled out” the two points despite some bad breaks, and highlights how the team’s defensive game appears to be trending in the right direction. Eyes on the Prize’s Top Six Minutes recap walks through the key swings of momentum as the Habs recovered to secure the extra point.

Off the ice, La Presse reports that broadcaster RDS encountered “technical difficulties” carrying the game, forcing some fans to scramble for alternate viewing options on a night when TSN2, RDS, MSG Buffalo and various streaming platforms were all part of the league-wide showcase, as detailed by The Hockey News and Eyes on the Prize.

Guhle healthy and trusted, depth showing through

On the blue line, Sportsnet focuses on Kaiden Guhle, whose young career has been derailed at times by injuries. Now healthy, he’s showing just how important he can be to the Canadiens. Eyes on the Prize relays a Radio-Canada report that Guhle’s responsibilities are growing with Mike Matheson out, while depth across the roster is serving Montreal well, according to Journal de Montréal.

Up front, Eyes on the Prize also cites the Montreal Gazette in noting that Zachary Bolduc has embraced his role on the French-speaking “Les Trois Boys” line, another sign that the Habs’ supporting cast is contributing early on.

On to Washington: Hutson vs. Hutson and Ovechkin’s tour

The Canadiens now sit fifth in the Atlantic Division with 7 points in 6 games (3-2-1) and turn the page quickly to tonight’s matchup in Washington (7:30 p.m. ET). La Presse lays out five things to know about the Capitals, from a anticipated duel between the Hutson brothers to what it describes as Alexander Ovechkin’s last lap, all set in the city once ruled by Al Iafrate and his booming shot.

Eyes on the Prize’s game preview notes that puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. EDT, with coverage on MNMT in the Capitals’ region and streaming on Prime Video in Canada and ESPN+ in the U.S. The site adds that both Montreal and Washington entered 2026–27 with a similar belief about their path this season. For the Habs, stacking a second win in as many nights in the U.S. capital would be an early-season statement.