Dobeš miscue still stings as Habs eye Chicago – Canadiens morning report

The Canadiens had a quiet Thursday on the schedule, but Tuesday night’s setback is still echoing around the team. According to Sportsnet, a major error by goaltender Jakub Dobeš was the turning point in Montreal’s overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks, a result that raised fresh questions about late-game management.

St-Louis unhappy with play, if not panicking yet

In its Thursday Habs headlines, Eyes on the Prize relays that the Journal de Montréal paints a picture of Martin St-Louis as a coach who isn’t panicking about his team’s season, but is far from pleased with how the Habs are executing. Costly mistakes like the one on Tuesday are clearly not sitting well, and it’s reasonable to expect St-Louis to demand a sharper focus in decision-making, especially in overtime and late in games.

The loss to San Jose folds into what has been an up-and-down start for the Canadiens. Montreal sits at 4-3-2, good for 10 points in 9 games and 6th place in the Atlantic Division. It’s an early reminder that dropped points can quickly pile up in a tight standings race, even in October.

Rocket rolling as Habs turn attention to Blackhawks

While the big club searches for consistency, the farm team is on a roll. As Eyes on the Prize notes, the Laval Rocket powered their way to a sixth straight win, fuelled by an explosive offence at Place Bell. Laval also hit the ice in new alternate jerseys to celebrate the franchise’s 10th anniversary, adding a bit of buzz around the organization’s depth chart.

The Canadiens’ focus now shifts to their next test: a Friday night visit to the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. in Montreal. Coming off the Dobeš miscue and with their head coach openly dissatisfied, the Habs should be a locked-in group heading into the United Center. Sitting in the bottom half of the Atlantic, Montreal can’t afford to let another winnable game slip away if they want to keep pace early in the season.