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A very sad development involving a Canadiens player is now unfolding


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Vincent Carbonneau
April 22, 2026  (11:39)
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Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the Bell Centre.
Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Kirby Dach and Martin St. Louis are carrying a real Canadiens problem into Game 3 at the Bell Centre.

This is not really about Instagram.
It is about timing, production, and a player sitting in the middle of Montreal's biggest open file just as the series swings home tied 1-1.
The social media angle only added fuel. Dach's Instagram page appeared unavailable after a loud wave of backlash, and that landed because fans were already frustrated with his game.
But the bigger issue is on the ice.
Montreal got what it needed from its stars through 2 games. Juraj Slafkovsky has 3 goals in the series. Nick Suzuki has 3 assists. Cole Caufield has 3 assists. Josh Anderson has scored 2 times.
That is why Dach is taking heat now. The Canadiens are not losing because the top end vanished.
They are losing because the middle of the lineup still feels unsettled.
“Kirby Dach went from a tough overtime mistake to becoming the center of a storm overnight. The criticism didn’t just stay on the ice — it followed him directly into his personal life. By the next morning, he had shut down his Instagram completely. That tells you everything about how far things went after that loss.” - Eso Handanagic

What’s unfolding involving a Canadiens player is raising serious concern

The numbers tell the story cleanly enough. Dach finished the regular season with 8 goals, 7 assists, and 15 points in 37 games.
Through 2 playoff games, he has 0 points and is averaging 10:56.
That is not enough for a player in his role, especially in a series where every line is being measured harder now.
St. Louis does not need Dach to turn into a one-man answer. He needs straight-line support, cleaner puck movement, and at least one heavy play around the crease that keeps a shift alive.
Right now, too many of Dach's shifts are ending without enough pressure.
That is what makes Game 3 feel so important for him.
The Bell Centre is going to be loud, emotional, and unforgiving. Montreal fans will be ready, but so will the spotlight. If Dach's line starts slow again, the patience in that building is going to disappear fast.
And once that happens, the coach's options get simpler.
Ice time gets cut. Assignments get safer. Trust gets thinner.
That is why this story hits harder than a bad night online. The Canadiens can still win this series. Their stars already proved they are ready for the stage.
Now they need Kirby Dach's line to stop surviving and start helping.
Because Game 3 is no longer asking for a response on social media.
It is asking for a playoff touch, and Montreal needs it now.
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A very sad development involving a Canadiens player is now unfolding

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