The Montreal Canadiens are set to face the Colorado Avalanche, who are dressing as the Quebec Nordiques, on Thursday night at the Bell Center. This marks their second meeting of the season and their first within Quebec this year, made possible by a league exemption allowing the visitors to wear the Nordiques’ blue jerseys. Fans nostalgic for the historic Quebec-Montreal rivalry will be eager to relive those moments.
In their previous encounter, the Avalanche defeated the Canadiens, with Jakub Dobe leading the way by scoring seven goals. Brock Nelson contributed significantly with two goals and two assists, while Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each tallied three points. Landeskog remains injured, but Devon Toews, sidelined for three weeks, could be available for tonight’s game. The Avalanche are seeking redemption after a 5-2 defeat to the Ottawa Senators, similar to the Canadiens’ recent opponent, the Vegas Golden Knights—we’ll see if they can bounce back in this back-to-back situation.
The Canadiens’ power play has struggled recently, especially without Hutson, and some management changes have been highlighted, including the departure of Eric Raymond. Rumors also swirl around Patrik Laine’s potential trade to a Canadian team, adding to the offseason buzz.
Though the Avalanche looked nearly unstoppable earlier this season, they’ve recently lost three consecutive games twice, indicating they’re not invincible. Still, they have dominated the recent head-to-head matchups, winning seven of the last ten meetings, including the previous two.
Coach Martin St. Louis has predicted that Jakub Dobe will score against Montreal, aiming to avenge his recent multi-goal game. Dobe has a 1-1-0 record versus the Canadiens, with a 3.84 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage. After a solid game against the Golden Knights, Dobe’s GAA is now 2.96 this season, with a save percentage of .890. Meanwhile, Samuel Montembeault has a 1-0-1 record against Colorado, with a 2.61 GAA and .916 save percentage.
The Avalanche’s starting goalie hasn’t been officially announced, but with Mackenzie Blackwood playing last night, Scott Wedgewood is likely to start despite his struggles against Montreal. Wedgewood’s stats include an 0-1-0 record, a 4.45 GAA, and a .778 save percentage, whereas Blackwood is 6-0-2 with a 2.41 GAA and .922 save percentage.
On offense, Montreal should watch out for Nick Suzuki, who has scored 10 points against Colorado. Phillip Danault also has 10 points in 21 games versus the Avalanche, and Brendan Gallagher has accumulated nine points in 17 games. Additionally, Colorado would be wise to contend with Cole Caufield, who has scored five goals in seven games against the Avalanche and is currently on a remarkable scoring streak, tallying goals in his last six games and scoring 11 points in that span. Caufield’s streak ties key franchise records, but he still has a way to go before surpassing the all-time record of Joe Malone, who scored in 14 consecutive games in 1917-18.
The Canadiens will need to contain players like Nelson, who has 31 points in 33 games against Montreal, Brent Burns with 21 points in 29 games, and MacKinnon, with 20 points in as many games. Former team member Artturi Lehkonen also has a strong record, scoring seven goals in just six games against Montreal.
The game kicks off at 7 p.m., and viewers can watch on RDS, TSN2, and ALT. The referees will be Justin Care and Frédéric L’Equier, with Michel Cormier and Devin Berg serving as linesmen.
Fan Take: This game is more than just a matchup; it’s a nostalgic throwback that rekindles the historic Quebec rivalry, adding extra heat to an already important rivalry contest. It’s also a critical test for both teams as they strive to find consistency in the playoff race, making every moment on the ice matter for hockey fans everywhere.
Note: The editorial opinion adds context about the significance of this game beyond the stats, emphasizing its emotional and competitive importance to fans and the sport.
