Important X-Factors For the Habs In The Playoffs
The Montreal Canadiens are set to embark on a hard-fought playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday evening. Given the experience that the Lightning have in the playoffs, the Habs are seen as heavy underdogs and will surely need a lot of things to go just right if they want to pull off an upset. To win this series, there are a few X-factors that will need to come up big for the Canadiens. Two of the most important X-factors will be Ivan Demidov and Kaiden Guhle, as both guys have a chance to be big difference-makers in their own ways.
I think it’s going to be very close.
Habs proved something in last games against them. Habs will not be intimidated. A few storylines:
– no Dobson hurts massively
– will Hedman be back?
– how will goalies fare
– Demidov X factorI think it’s going 6-7 games. Gonna be close
— LochnessMonster (@Lochness12021) April 14, 2026
The top line will always find a way to produce, especially after finishing the season with 110 goals between the three of them (Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky), but the team lacks consistent secondary scoring from their lineup. Yes, Demidov finished the year with 62 points in 82 games, which is great for a rookie, but at the same time, he only scored 19 goals on the year. Demidov is obviously a great playmaker who almost singlehandedly helped fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen score 22 goals on the year. However, the 2nd line has seen a lot of inconsistencies offensively throughout the season, and with how important secondary scoring is in the playoffs, the Habs will need someone to step up and add more of a scoring touch.
What a shot from Ivan Demidov.
1-1#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/iibxdvM4Ch
— × – Habs Fans Forever (@Fan4Habs) April 8, 2026
Demidov is primarily a playmaker, but the Canadiens rookie also has a great shot that he doesn’t use that often. It’s even better that he has a tremendous IQ and could easily fool a goaltender by faking a pass into a shot or vice versa. As a result, what makes Demidov an X-factor for the Habs is that he is a triple-threat offensively who can take over a game. The only thing is that for him to be that x-factor against the Lightning, he will need to shoot more and look for the pass less often, as defenders will know to cut off the passing lanes for the rookie.
If Demidov can get the 2nd line to provide about a goal every single game during the playoffs, it can take some pressure off the top line to produce, which in turn can lead to the Habs winning the series. At the end of the day, the playoffs will give Demidov a chance to truly break out into the superstar that he is destined to become in the near future.
Yup and Matheson Guhle like matches up against Kuch as well, gotta play him physical.
I think if the Suzuki line can dominate matchups against the point line we’re in business.
Not having a trustworthy 4D (depending on your thoughts on 45) hurts a ton though.
— Adam 🇵🇸 (@NickSuzuki14) April 16, 2026
As for Guhle, he can be an x-factor as he will be counted on to play bigger minutes for the Canadiens during the first round since Noah Dobson is likely to be out for the series against the Lightning. Dobson will be badly missed, and someone will need to step up to play a huge role both on the penalty kill and late in games if the Habs have a lead. One area where Guhle can potentially help soften the blow of losing Dobson is that Guhle can be a great shot blocker, like he has proven to be in the past.
This year, Guhle blocked fewer shots as he’s gone from 2.25 shot blocks during the 2024-25 season to just 1.62 blocks this past campaign. To be that x-factor, Guhle will need to get to blocking the same number of shots as last season.
Habs goal of the day:
Cole Caufield vs Vancouver Canucks (January 6th, 2025)
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 14, 2025
The Canadiens will also need Guhle to bring some physicality to counter what the Lightning will dish out throughout the series. While the Habs have Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj, who are probably more physical than Guhle, they aren’t nearly as good as him in any other aspect of the defensive game. A physical Kaiden Guhle gives the Habs someone who can dish out big hits to counter the opponents but also someone that can be trusted to play over 20 minutes a night. With that being said, he will have a massive role for the Habs in the playoffs alongside Mike Matheson.
If both Demidov and Guhle can play up to their abilities, that can be a major difference maker in this series against the Lightning, which could make things a lot easier for the underdog Habs. Do you believe these two players will play a big role for the Canadiens against the Lightning?
