Philadelphia Flyers Head Into Final Regular Season Game Against Montreal Canadiens The Philadelphia Flyers, under the guidance of head coach Rick Tocchet, are set to play their final regular season game of the 2025-26 NHL campaign on Tuesday as they host the Montreal Canadiens at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Flyers, with a record of 42-27-12, have secured third place in the Metropolitan Division and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Canadiens, led by Martin St. Louis, will compete against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, with the series starter to be determined by the outcome of their game against the Flyers and Tampa’s match against the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Flyers’ victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in a 3-2 overtime game on Monday secured their playoff berth, marking a significant milestone for the team. The game, which featured a shootout win, was a crucial step in their journey to the postseason. The Flyers’ fans will gather in full force for the Tuesday matchup, with the arena adorned in orange and black for the “Orange Out” event, a tradition meant to celebrate the team’s playoff run. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT, and the broadcast will be carried on NBCSP. The Flyers’ roster is in a state of transition as they prepare for the playoffs. Several key players, including Travis Sanheim, Owen Tippett, Noah Cates, and Trevor Zegras, have played in all 81 games of the regular season, a testament to their durability and importance to the team. However, the physical and mental toll of the season has led to strategic decisions about player rest, with some key contributors likely to sit out the final game.#philadelphia_flyers #xfinity_mobile_arena #montreal_canadiens #martin_st_louis #rick_tocchet
Tough Decisions Loom for Canadiens' St. Louis, Including What to Do With Hage BROSSARD, Que. — As the 2025-26 NHL season enters its final stretch, Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis faces a series of complex decisions that could shape the team’s playoff prospects. Central to this dilemma is the potential inclusion of 19-year-old forward Michael Hage, a 21st-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft who has already demonstrated NHL readiness during his college tenure with the Michigan Wolverines. With four games remaining in the regular season, the Canadiens are four points out of first place in the Eastern Conference and tied for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. St. Louis has emphasized that winning games and securing playoff positioning remain his top priorities, but recent lineup adjustments suggest he is also considering how to best utilize his roster for the postseason. Hage, who has compiled 26 goals and 85 points in 71 games over the past two seasons, is set to compete in the NCAA Frozen Four, where the Wolverines face the Denver Pioneers in a semifinal on Thursday. If Michigan advances to the national championship on Saturday, Hage could be available to the Canadiens by then. However, St. Louis has not yet confirmed whether he will activate Hage for a regular-season game before the playoffs, despite the player’s potential to fit seamlessly into the team’s top lines. The coach’s reluctance to commit to a plan is underscored by his recent tactical shifts, including moving Alex Texier back into the lineup after a seven-game absence due to a lower-body injury. Texier’s return to the second line, paired with Oliver Kapanen and Phillip Danault, has created a new dynamic that St. Louis appears to be testing.#michigan_wolverines #denver_pioneers #montreal_canadiens #martin_st_louis #michael_hage
Montreal Canadiens Turn to Xhekaj as Fill-In for Injured Defenceman Carrier TAMPA, Fla. — The Montreal Canadiens have announced that defenceman Alexandre Carrier will miss two to four weeks due to an upper-body injury, leaving the team to rely on Arber Xhekaj as a temporary replacement. Carrier, who played just over 19 minutes in the Canadiens’ 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, sustained the injury during a game in which he was hit six times—twice with bodychecks and four times with shots. Despite the physical toll, Carrier showed no signs of injury, underscoring the team’s loss. The 29-year-old defenceman has been a key contributor this season, logging 19:05 per game in 73 contests while tallying seven goals and 22 points. His 155 blocks rank eighth in the NHL, though he trails league leader Noah Dobson by 14. Carrier’s absence will be felt in multiple areas, including his role as a penalty killer and his physical presence on the blue line. Coach Martin St. Louis emphasized the team’s need to adapt, noting that Xhekaj will step into the right-side role for Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Xhekaj, a left-handed defenceman, has struggled this season, averaging just 11:10 per game and being scratched from six consecutive contests prior to Carrier’s injury. The 25-year-old, who was a standout in training camp, has been used sparingly since the season began, despite his physicality and ability to make plays. With Carrier sidelined, Xhekaj’s opportunity to showcase his skills has arrived. St. Louis praised Xhekaj’s potential, stating, “To me, it’s to stack up his actions throughout his shifts. Whether it was a good shift or a bad shift, it’s what’s next.#tampa_bay_lightning #montreal_canadiens #alexandre_carrier #arber_xhekaj #martin_st_louis
