If there’s one stretch that defined the Montreal Canadiens’ identity last season, it was the run that followed the 4 Nations Face-Off break. In a tight Eastern Conference race, the Habs flipped a switch and went from fringe contender to legitimate playoff team. They didn’t just sneak in; they earned it with structure, discipline, and timely execution. Now, with another razor-thin playoff race unfolding, Montreal must tap into those same lessons that fueled last year’s red-hot finish.
Structure First
Last season’s surge wasn’t built on highlight-reel goals. It was built on defensive structure. After the break, the Canadiens committed to playing tighter hockey through the neutral zone. Their gap control improved, their backpressure from forwards became consistent, and they drastically cut down odd-man rushes against. The team simplified breakouts, made shorter passes, and avoided forcing plays through the middle when nothing was there.
Nick Suzuki’s line led the way, not just offensively but in two-way play. The top six bought into a 200-foot game, which allowed the defence, especially Lane Hutson and the younger blueliners, to play aggressive but controlled hockey.
The lesson? When games tighten in March and April, offence becomes harder to generate. Structure wins. This year’s Canadiens must remember that they don’t need to score four or five goals every night to win. If they keep games at 2–1 or 3–2 and trust their system, their opportunistic scoring will take care of the rest. Last year proved that commitment to structure fuels confidence, and confidence fuels wins.
Part of that success came from Samuel Montembeault playing solid between the pipes. While it has been a tough season so far, Montembeault and Jakub Dobes will both have to step up to help the Habs get back in the playoffs for the second straight season.
Depth Wins Down the Stretch
Perhaps the biggest lesson from last season’s push, depth matters more than star power in March. Suzuki was red hot to finish the 2024-25 season, but the Habs also were able to count on secondary scoring. Christian Dvorak got going, Josh Anderson stepped up, and Jake Evans had a good season.
It wasn’t only the top line carrying the Canadiens. Secondary scoring chipped in consistently. Defencemen outside the top pair played within themselves and avoided costly mistakes. This year, that lesson is even more relevant.
Related: 3 Canadiens Prospects Who Could Be Trade Chips at the Trade Deadline
The Canadiens must trust their entire roster. They will need some of their depth options to chip in. Zachary Bolduc, Phillip Danault, Kirby Dach and the rest of the bottom six will play a major role for the Canadiens in the last stretch of the season.
Injuries happen. Slumps happen. But last season showed that when the bottom six contributes and the third pair keeps things simple, the pressure doesn’t sit solely on Suzuki or Cole Caufield to carry the offence. Depth stabilizes momentum.
Play With Urgency
One underrated element of last year’s post-4 Nations break run was emotional maturity. The Canadiens understood the standings. They knew the race was tight. But they didn’t chase games recklessly. They stuck to their identity and trusted that the results would follow. That balance, urgency without panic, is crucial.
Late-season hockey is intense. One bad week can undo a month of work. But pressing too hard often leads to mistakes, forced passes, defensive breakdowns, and unnecessary penalties. Last year’s team learned to manage those emotions. They took it game by game. That approach must return.
This is a lesson the Canadiens have followed to start the season. They came back several times late in games and scored late goals to get that important point in extra time. Montreal will need to keep that going to finish the season. Every point matters at this point.
The Canadiens don’t need to reinvent themselves after the Olympic break. They already wrote the blueprint last season. Play structured hockey. Trust the depth. Stay composed. The Eastern Conference race won’t get easier. But Montreal has already proven it can handle the pressure. Now the challenge is simple: remember what made them successful, and do it again.
