With the dreaded western swing looming, the Montreal Canadiens had one last chance to win on home ice before they hit the road. Taking on a Buffalo Sabres squad that has certainly had their challenges in this young season, it was a little more stressful than the Habs would have liked, but they got the job done with a 4-2 win. They had to battle through some tough stretches to get that win, and it sends them off to western Canada on a high note.
Speaking of battling, Juraj Slafkovsky might not have gaudy point totals to start this season, but you have to like the way he’s playing right now.
First chance doesn’t go, but Noah Dobson gets it back and makes the second one easy on Juraj Slafkovsky. 2-1 #Habs pic.twitter.com/KmLZIaOYPM
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) October 21, 2025
Night in and night out, Slafkovsky is demanding space in the low slot. One critique that his detractors like to levy against him is that he hasn’t always played like he’s as big as he is, but in the early goings of this season, he’s doing precisely that. He plays with two of the most skilled players in the lineup, so they don’t need him to get fancy, they need him to be a problem along the walls and in front of the net.
At this particular time of the year, he doesn’t really care which net it is, he’s ready to mix it up.
Juraj Slafkovsky does not take kindly to folks fucking with his tendy. pic.twitter.com/uZt3Wg7nuM
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) October 21, 2025
They drafted him hoping that he could turn into a legitimate power forward in the future. Kent Hughes has always preached patience to that end, noting that he wanted the best player at 24 years old, not necessarily the best in his teens, or early twenties. Well, at 21 years old, the Slovak is having arguably the best start to a season that he’s had, and playing a style of game that should be conducive to more production as the season rolls along.
We know how tough the first western road trip is for these Habs. If Juraj Slafkovsky brings this version of himself out there, perhaps they can change that narrative.
Click the play button below to listen to your full Bottom Six Minutes, also available wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll be back on Wednesday night for the start of the western road swing against the Calgary Flames.
Please excuse some of the interruptions in the podcast. Like most Canadians, I was watching the end of the Blue Jays game as I was recording.