The Bell Centre was humming with promise as the game began—a sea of red and blue jerseys, the roar of the crowd swelling with every stride, every shot, every hope that this night would be different. Four minutes into the first period, the building erupted: Juraj Slafkovsky had just buried his 50th career goal, a milestone that shimmered with the possibility of a turning point for the Montreal Canadiens. But as quickly as the cheers rose, a chill swept through the arena. The Ottawa Senators answered with a barrage of goals, and the mood shifted from celebration to unease, the kind that hangs heavy in the air and settles in the bones of every player, coach, and fan.

By the time the horn sounded to end the first period, the Canadiens found themselves staring at a scoreboard that felt like a verdict—three unanswered goals for Ottawa, and an all-too-familiar sense of vulnerability haunting the home bench. What happened next, however, would prove to be far more consequential than anything displayed on the ice. As the players trudged back to the locker room, heads down and hearts pounding, the real drama was just beginning behind closed doors.

Nick Suzuki, captain and heartbeat of the team, would later reveal the moment that changed the game’s narrative—and perhaps the trajectory of the season. Martin St. Louis, the usually composed and cerebral head coach, stormed into the room with a message that cut through the silence like a slap: “Those who don’t know how to defend are going to stay seated.” The words hung in the air, sharp and unyielding, a line drawn in the sand that left no room for excuses or second chances. The locker room, already tense from the on-ice collapse, was now electrified by the raw honesty and unmistakable threat in St. Louis’ voice.

For a group that had just surrendered three goals in twenty minutes—and twelve in their last two games—the warning was more than just a coaching tactic. It was a reckoning. The Canadiens’ defensive struggles had reached a boiling point, and their leader was no longer willing to tolerate anything less than total commitment. The message was clear: play the right way, or watch from the bench.

Outside, the fans and media buzzed not just about the loss, but about the seismic shift happening inside the Canadiens’ locker room. Was this the moment that would wake the team from its defensive slumber, or the start of a deeper slide into frustration and inconsistency? With Samuel Montembeault left to weather wave after wave of Ottawa attacks, and the team’s position in the standings growing more precarious, the pressure was mounting.

As the Canadiens prepare for their next challenge, the question lingers: Will Martin St. Louis’ brutal honesty spark a turnaround, or will the echoes of his warning haunt the team through the cold Montreal winter? The answer may not be found in the final score, but in the silent resolve forged behind the locker room door—a place where careers are tested, and seasons are defined.

Nick Suzuki and Martin St-Louis

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey

Tuesday night, Nick Suzuki reported a downright brutal message delivered by Martin St. Louis after the first period against Ottawa.

The evening had actually started well at the Bell Centre, with Juraj Slafkovsky scoring his 50th career goal on the power play barely four minutes into the game.

The Senators then scored four straight goals before Suzuki cut the gap, again on the man advantage. Ottawa eventually left Montreal with a 5-2 win after outshooting the Canadiens 29-21.

In this context, what people are talking about today is not even just the loss. It is what happened in the locker room after the first twenty minutes. According to Nick Suzuki, the head coach walked into the room with a very firm tone and warned that those who did not know how to defend would remain on the bench for the rest of the game.

“Nick Suzuki just shared a pretty strong admission:

“After the first period, Martin St. Louis came into the locker room and told us that those who didn’t know how to defend were going to stay seated.”

Nick Suzuki reports Martin St. Louis’ raw words

We are talking about a direct warning delivered to a group that already knew it had botched the start of the game. The players had just allowed three goals in the first period and let Ottawa settle far too easily in the Canadiens’ zone.

When a coach threatens to staple guys to the end of the bench after only twenty minutes, it means his patience is wearing thin. This episode comes after another very difficult night on Saturday against the Avalanche wearing Quebec Nordiques colors, where the Canadiens lost 7-2.

In total, the Canadiens have now allowed 12 goals in two games. Montreal has lost seven of its last ten and sits at 29 points in 25 games, while Ottawa climbs to 30 points in 26 outings.

In net, 29-year-old Samuel Montembeault faced 29 shots and gave up five, on a night when Ottawa often attacked in waves. The Quebecer is in the second year of a three-season contract extension at an average annual value of $3.15 million, and he cannot always cover up the defensive breakdowns in front of him.

In the end, the shocking phrase reported by Suzuki sounds like a serious warning for the entire group. The message is simple: if you do not do the job without the puck, you watch the game.

We will see, starting with the next games, whether this harsh reminder in the room wakes up the Canadiens or whether more difficult nights like this will continue to haunt the locker room.