Canadiens Down Flyers in Second Preseason Tilt

The Montreal Canadiens put together an even stronger performance at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, skating to a 4–2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in their second game of the preseason. A blend of established stars and hungry young players carried the Canadiens, who remain unbeaten through their early exhibition slate.

The Habs wasted no time giving the home crowd something to cheer about. Just 53 seconds into the opening period, Cole Caufield buried a smooth feed from Lane Hutson and captain Nick Suzuki to make it 1–0. The quick strike was classic Caufield — finding space in the slot and releasing a pinpoint shot.

Only minutes later, the building erupted again as Florian Xhekaj doubled the lead. For a prospect fighting to carve out a regular role, finding the net in front of a preseason crowd is a statement, and it gave the team instant momentum.

Philadelphia regrouped in the second period and managed to push back. At times, the Flyers dictated play, particularly in the second period when Montreal’s pace sagged. The Canadiens bent but didn’t break, thanks in part to solid work in the crease.

Goaltending Notes

St. Louis split the net between Jakub Dobes and newly acquired Kaapo Kahkonen. Dobes was practically flawless in his stretch, turning aside every shot he faced with calm positioning. Kahkonen allowed two goals but steadied himself late, making important stops as Philadelphia pressed for an equalizer. While the preseason offers limited samples, Dobes’ composure will keep him on the coaching staff’s radar as a depth option.

The Canadiens iced the game late in the third when sheriff Arber Xhekaj found the empty net. The rare sight of siblings both scoring in the same game electrified the Bell Centre and underscored the organization’s growing pool of gritty, physical talent.

Montreal’s 4–2 win came without too much drama down the stretch, a credit to their ability to clamp down defensively in the final minutes.

Standout Performers

• Cole Caufield: Looked in midseason form. His ability to find soft ice and fire with precision is already evident. He’s finessed that shot, and I predict it’s going to be a big year for him.

• Nick Suzuki: Not just a scorer but a steady two-way presence. His line controlled possession and set the tone.

• Florian & Arber Xhekaj: Both making the scoresheet in the same night is more than a feel-good story. Florian continues to show he may be NHL-ready, while Arber’s physicality and defensive presence remain valuable.

• Jakub Dobes: Calm and effective in net. It’s only preseason, but he’s making a case for more looks.

Underwhelming Efforts

• Special Teams Defense: Allowing a power-play goal in the second period highlighted that penalty killing remains a weak spot.

• Bottom-Six Depth: Beyond the Xhekaj brothers, Montreal didn’t get much offensive push from its supporting cast. For a team still shaping its forward group, this is going to be an important area to monitor.

• Second Period Lapses: Momentum shifted toward the Flyers for long stretches, and against regular-season lineups, this can be costly. This can change with a full and solid lineup, but something I’m sure the coaching staff is looking at.

Broader Takeaways

Two games into the preseason, the Canadiens’ trajectory looks promising. The core trio of Suzuki, Caufield, and Slafkovsky (who chipped in an assist) continues to build chemistry, while the Xhekaj brothers add both scoring and snarl. Goaltending remains an open competition, with Dobes impressing early and prospect Jacob Fowler having shone in the preseason opener against Pittsburgh.

The Canadiens are not without flaws: defensive coverage can loosen at times, and offensive production still leans heavily on the top line. Yet these are precisely the wrinkles the preseason is designed to expose.

What’s Next

As Montreal moves deeper into exhibition play, the focus will shift to roster decisions. Can Arber Xhekaj push for a more permanent role this year? How about Florian? Will Dobes or Fowler climb the goaltending depth chart? And how quickly can the Canadiens tighten their penalty kill?

If Tuesday’s performance is any indication, this is a group eager to take another step forward. For now, they leave the Bell Centre faithful with a win — and a glimpse of what could be an exciting season ahead.