With their division rivals all enjoying winning streaks, Montreal needed one of their own, especially in a key divisional matchup against the streaking hot Buffalo\u00a0Sabres<\/a>. A game that saw the Canadiens show some character and swagger, taking the\u00a0key\u00a0point\u00a0matchup in regulation, allowing them to take control of third place in the division.\u00a0This week\u2019s\u00a0three stars provided\u00a0clutch production and performances, feeding a boost in confidence as Montreal closed out January with positive momentum heading into February.<\/p>\n Third Star \u2013 Nick\u00a0Suzuki\u00a0<\/p>\n Though not leading the week in goals,\u00a0Nick\u00a0Suzuki\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0all-around playmaking and leadership made him indispensable. In a critical game against the\u00a0Sabres, he chipped in with two assists. More importantly, he was a driving\u00a0force in\u00a0Montreal\u2019s transition game and in creating offence at crucial junctures.\u00a0Over the three games last week, he had two goals and five points with a 50% faceoff\u00a0success rate, averaging almost 19 minutes per game, matching up against the opposition\u2019s top lines led by Jack Eichel, Nathan\u00a0MacKinnon and Tage Thompson. Combined, they amounted to one assist and a minus-4 against\u00a0Suzuki.<\/p>\n His three-point night against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche\u00a0led to\u00a0more than just a much-needed two points in the standings; it signalled to themselves and the rest of the NHL that the Canadiens are on the verge of taking that next step in the rebuild.\u00a0<\/p>\n His\u00a0ability to dictate play,\u00a0both carrying pucks through the neutral zone and generating scoring chances, kept Montreal\u2019s top line dangerous even when opponents focused on shutting down\u00a0Cole\u00a0Caufield<\/a>. His savvy in the faceoff circle and IQ in tight spaces helped the Canadiens manage momentum swings in close contests\u00a0in a critical juncture of their push for a playoff berth.\u00a0<\/p>\n Second Star \u2013 Jakub Dobes\u00a0<\/p>\n While offensive stories often grab headlines, Montreal\u2019s backbone last week was goaltender Jakub Dobes. His play in goal provided the stability that the team had been longing for all\u00a0season.\u00a0In a week that saw the\u00a0Canadiens fire their goaltending coach<\/a>,\u00a0Dobes backstopped all three games in\u00a0a busy week that included\u00a0a\u00a0pivotal road\u00a0game against a division rival. He\u00a0turned aside\u00a036 shots in Buffalo, preserving the win and showing marked poise under pressure.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n His stellar play defied gaming analytics\u00a0and allowed Montreal to take all six points available last week without allowing any to go to a divisional opponent. Additionally, his consistent save work in the overtime win\u00a0over the\u00a0Vegas\u00a0Golden Knights\u00a0helped Montreal close out a tight game and\u00a0maintain\u00a0momentum. In games that saw high shot volumes and\u00a0consistent exchanges of\u00a0special\u00a0teams\u00a0chances, Dobes\u00a0kept the Canadiens\u00a0in games,\u00a0blending\u00a0timely\u00a0saves with\u00a0a\u00a0calm composure that allowed Montreal\u2019s forwards to press without panic.\u00a0<\/p>\n First Star \u2013 Cole Caufield\u00a0<\/p>\n Caufield was easily the most exciting and impactful player\u00a0for the Canadiens last week.\u00a0His three goals and four points\u00a0included clutch scoring, including two tying goals and a game-winner. Despite going pointless in\u00a0the 7-3 victory over the Avalanche, he is on pace for career record numbers of 48 goals and 85 points in 82 games.\u00a0<\/p>\n Caufield\u00a0punctuated the week with two huge third-period goals in a\u00a04\u20132 road win over Buffalo on Jan. 31. Both tallies came in clutch moments,\u00a0tying the game and then netting the eventual winner,\u00a0lifting him to\u00a032 goals on the season.\u00a0Mr. Saturday Night\u2019s\u00a0ability to finish under pressure, with an\u00a0NHL-leading eight game-winning goals, shaped\u00a0Montreal\u2019s week.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite somehow not being selected to play for Team USA at the Olympics, Caufield has shown a talent for raising his game when it matters most, as\u00a023 of his 32 goals have come with\u00a0Montreal\u00a0either tied or down by one; he\u2019s the very definition of a clutch sniper.\u00a0His hot hand helped extend a three-game team winning streak and kept Montreal competitive in\u00a0an ever-tighter Atlantic Division playoff race.\u00a0<\/p>\n There were several deserving players for this edition, with some flying\u00a0under\u00a0the radar due in part to the highlights this week\u2019s stars generated.\u00a0Collectively, these performances helped Montreal close January on a high note and build confidence as they head into February\u2019s slate of divisional battles.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Juraj](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Canadiens-Celebrate-2-1200x800.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky celebrates with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Canadiens_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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