Professor’s Press Box Morning Review – Nov. 12: Habs, Leafs, Flames, Canucks, Jets, Sens

If you were up late watching hockey last night, you got a good look at where Canada’s seven NHL teams stand halfway through November — and it’s a mixed bag. Montreal’s momentum hit a wall, Toronto’s star center went down, Calgary showed late fight but no finish, and Vancouver’s injuries are starting to add up. Winnipeg finally looked like itself again, while Ottawa found a new way to lose a game it probably deserved to win.

It’s that stretch of the season when teams start to show who they really are. The first few weeks of energy and optimism fade, and November has a way of exposing cracks — in systems, in confidence, even in leadership. Canadian fans know the feeling all too well. Let’s take a lap around the rink and see how the night went for each of them.

Game One: Point Streak Snapped as Montreal Falters in the Second (Kings 5, Canadiens 1)

The Montreal Canadiens had a promising start, but things came undone fast. Josh Anderson finally broke through with a rocket late in the first, and for a moment, the Bell Centre had that hopeful buzz. But the Los Angeles Kings came out in the second like a team on a mission — three goals in just over four minutes. You could feel the air go out of the place.

Sam Montembeault didn’t get much help as the Canadiens struggled with turnovers and coverage. Still, there were flashes worth noting. Lane Hutson, who seems to make one “wow” play a night, picked up his 75th assist in just his 100th game. That’s not nothing. The Canadiens’ six-game point streak ends with a bit of a thud, but the lesson’s clear: good teams don’t give you second chances when you lose your structure.

Game Two: Bruins Outlast Maple Leafs in Physical Battle (Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 3)

From the Maple Leafs’ point of view, this one hurt — and not just on the scoreboard. Auston Matthews left midway through the second with a lower-body injury after a collision with Nikita Zadorov, and you could almost hear the collective gasp across Leafs Nation.

Before that, Toronto had its moments. Steven Lorentz’s short-handed marker gave them life, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s late goal made it close again. But the Bruins were sharper when it mattered. David Pastrnak, who now has 400 career goals, was the difference-maker.

Anthony Stolarz’s early exit didn’t help — Dennis Hildeby got tossed into a tough spot against a team that knows how to make you pay for every mistake. The Maple Leafs battled hard but couldn’t keep pace.

There were a few bright spots: Morgan Rielly passed Tomas Kaberle for second all-time in assists among Leafs defensemen, which says plenty about his consistency. And John Tavares summed it up well after the game — the effort was there, the execution wasn’t. The Maple Leafs have lost three straight, and with Matthews’ health in question, they’ll need to find their rhythm fast before this slide becomes a trend.

Game Three: Blues Hold Off Late Flames Surge (Blues 3, Flames 2)

For the Calgary Flames, this was another night where the effort showed up late, but the result didn’t. Down 3–0 midway through the second, they finally found some spark — two goals in 25 seconds from Matt Coronato and Rasmus Andersson gave them hope. For a stretch, you thought maybe they’d pull it off.

Dustin Wolf battled well in goal, stopping 28 shots, but Jordan Binnington was just better. His 38 saves carried the Blues. Calgary’s push in the third showed character, but it also reminded everyone of what’s missing — a consistent start.

Andersson said it flat-out after the game: “We’re in a tough spot. It stinks.” That about captures it. There’s talent here, but until the Flames play full 60-minute hockey, close calls like this one will keep piling up. Coronato’s goal at least broke a long drought — maybe it sparks something. But moral victories don’t count for much in November.

Game Four: Jets Regain Their Identity in Win Over Canucks (Jets 5, Canucks 3)

Finally, a bit of good news out of Winnipeg. After three straight losses, the Jets came into Vancouver looking for a reset — and they got one. Josh Morrissey looked like a leader again, scoring once and setting up two more. The power play finally came to life, and Connor Hellebuyck shut the door late when it mattered.

This was the kind of complete, determined win the Jets have been looking for. It wasn’t fancy, but it was smart hockey — the type that wins. Morrissey said afterward that everyone raised their intensity level. You could see it.

For the Canucks, it was a frustrating night. They pushed hard but lost ground in the special teams battle, and their penalty kill continues to haunt them. Quinn Hughes had three assists and looked every bit the captain, but the bigger concern was in goal. Thatcher Demko left early with a lower-body issue, and that’s never good news for Vancouver. Kevin Lankinen filled in admirably, but it’s clear this team needs Demko healthy if they want to stay near the top of the standings.

Game Five: Stars Rally Past Senators in Overtime (Stars 3, Senators 2)

The Ottawa Senators will feel this one slipped through their fingers. They came out flying — Drake Batherson and Nick Jensen had them up 2–0 early, and Linus Ullmark looked solid between the pipes. For most of the night, Ottawa controlled the play.

But then came the moment that changed everything: Thomas Chabot took a hard hit from Colin Blackwell and left the game. From that point on, you could sense the group tightening up. Dallas took over in the third, tied it, and Roope Hintz finished the job in overtime.

It’s a tough way to lose, especially when you’ve played well enough to win. Still, there are signs of growth here. Ullmark gave Ottawa a calm, reliable presence in goal — something they’ve needed for years. The team’s point streak hits six games, but this one’s going to sting. The Senators are learning the same lesson as the Flames and Canadiens: playing well isn’t enough if you can’t close.

Closing Thoughts About the Canadian Teams Last Night

So what do we take from a night like that? Mostly, that every Canadian team is somewhere between “promising” and “problematic.” The Jets rediscovered their spark. The Maple Leafs and Flames are battling through injuries and inconsistency. The Canadiens are learning what it takes to handle pressure. Ottawa’s learning how to finish. And the Canucks — well, they’re just trying to stay healthy.

It’s the middle of November, and this is the part of the season where resolve starts to matter more than reputation. You can’t fake confidence or cohesion — you either have it or you don’t. For Canadian teams chasing identity, this stretch might tell us more than any October hot streak ever could.