Noah Dobson's solo skate in Brossard is turning heads this morning
Noah Dobson gave Martin St-Louis a needed sign Sunday when he returned to the ice alone at CN Complex in Brossard.
That was the first time Dobson had been seen skating since the upper-body injury that pushed him out of Montreal's lineup.
He remains listed day-to-day, which keeps the door open without settling anything yet.
The timing matters because this series with the Tampa Bay Lightning is tied 2-2.
At this stage, one morning skate can shift the whole conversation around Game 5.
Dobson has missed all 4 games in the series so far.
The Canadiens still managed to split those games, but that doesn't mean they've replaced what he brings from the blue line.
He finished the regular season with 47 points in 80 games.
He also scored 5 power-play goals, which speaks to the role Montreal has been missing on its top unit.
That's where this gets interesting for St-Louis. Dobson is not just another right-shot defenseman. He's a puck mover who can steady breakouts and give the power play a different look.
Montreal gets a sign, not a green light for Noah Dobson
The fact he skated alone is still the biggest detail here.
A solo session usually means evaluation, not full reintegration with the group, and that tempers any rush toward a Game 5 return.
Montreal has leaned on Lane Hutson to cover part of that offensive load from the back end.
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Hutson has 4 points through 4 playoff games, and he's handled a lot of the puck-moving work.
But Dobson changes the feel of the pairings when he's available.
He brings a heavier frame, more reach, and more experience in tight playoff shifts when the bench starts shortening.
The series now swings back to Tampa Bay for Game 5.
If Dobson is not ready there, the focus quickly shifts to whether Montreal can get him back for a possible Game 6 at Bell Centre.
That's why Sunday's skate matters even without a clear return date.
After several quiet days, the Canadiens at least got visual proof that one of their key defensemen is moving again.
For now, that's the story. Dobson is back on the ice, the series is still open, and St-Louis has one more lineup question hanging over a massive road game.
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YESTERDAY
APRIL 26, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Nathan MacKinnon | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Evan Bouchard | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jake Guentzel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| John Carlson | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Jackson Lacombe | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Connor McDavid | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Janis Jerome Moser | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Zachary Bolduc | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Joel Edmundson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mikael Granlund | 1 | - | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||