Huge blow for Montreal as superstar stays down after a vicious hit from Taylor Hall

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Jonathan Ouimet
May 23, 2026  (11:53 PM)

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Lane Hutson took a hard hit along the boards from Taylor Hall on Saturday night, and the Canadiens are now flying back to Montreal with their best young defender's status hanging in the air.

The Habs dropped Game 2 in overtime 3-2. Series tied 1-1. Hutson looked hurt in the moments after the contact.

That's the only video Habs fans care about right now. Forget the bounce that ended the game. The 22-year-old blueliner getting up slow is the story.

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Hutson has been Montreal's engine all spring. He's posted 14 points across 15 playoff games this run, including 12 assists and a game-winner.

His regular season was already a calling card. 78 points, plus-36, 66 helpers from the back end at age 22. The kind of season you build a defensive core around.

Now imagine running a deep playoff series without him for even one game. The math gets ugly fast.

Colorado already knows what missing a top defender costs in May. Cale Makar has been carrying a day-to-day tag this round, and the Avalanche have felt every minute of it.

Lose your No.1 driver from the back end in a tight series, and the entire game plan shifts. Pairings change. Power play looks different. Pre-scout falls apart.

Hutson is that guy for Montreal. There's no equivalent on the depth chart. There's no plug-and-play replacement waiting in the press box.

Does Martin St-Louis get a clean update before puck drop in Game 3? Or does Montreal head into the most important home game of its season guessing on its own blue line?

Taylor Hall played the body the way you're supposed to in the conference final. The hit wasn't dirty. The consequence is what makes it news.

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Two games at the Bell Centre come next. The Habs need their best 22-year-old defender available. Montreal's spring depends on it.

Previously

Monster trade brewing between the Senators and Eastern rival

Fresh name just entered the Canucks coaching race and it makes too much sense

New candidate emerged in Oilers coaching race and it makes way too much sense

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1 HOUR AGO   |   53 ANSWERS Huge blow for Montreal as superstar stays down after a vicious hit from Taylor Hall Should Lane Hutson play Game 3 if he's less than 100 percent ?

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