After an impressive comeback win against the Carolina Hurricanes on New Year’s Day, the Montreal Canadiens are set for an optional practice session on Friday before facing off against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday afternoon. This will be the final meeting of the season between these two teams, with Jim Montgomery’s Blues having won the first matchup 4-3 in Montreal earlier in December. Though the Blues have taken six of the last ten encounters, they have struggled this season.
Despite playing two additional games, St. Louis currently ranks sixth in the Central Division with 40 points, trailing the Canadiens by 10 points. However, their recent form is decent, holding a 5-4-1 record over the last ten games. In their latest outing, they edged out the Las Vegas Golden Knights 4-3, thanks to Brayden Schenn’s late game-winning goal.
Joel Hofer featured in the game against the Golden Knights on Friday, with Jordan Binnington expected to guard the net against Montreal. Binnington has a 4-4-0 record against the Canadiens with a 3.41 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage. Hofer’s sole win against Montreal came with a 3.00 GAA and .909 save percentage.
On Montreal’s side, Samuel Montembeault made a solid return to NHL action this past Tuesday, showing a 2-2-0 record, a 3.64 GAA, and .887 SV against the Blues. Jakub Dobes is less proven, with a 0-1-0 record, 4.48 GAA, and .783 SV, having allowed four goals on 18 shots in a December loss. Jacob Fowler hasn’t faced the Blues yet but is expected to contribute.
The Canadiens must watch center Brayden Schenn closely, who has tallied 31 points in 32 games against them, including three in their last meeting. Defenseman Cam Fowler is their second-highest scorer against Montreal with 18 points in 24 games, while Robert Thomas, although scoring only 14 points, has done so in just nine games.
From Montreal’s perspective, new Olympic captain Nick Suzuki has been impressive with 12 points in 11 games versus the Blues, and sharpshooter Cole Caufield, overlooked by Team USA, holds 10 points in nine games. Brendan Gallagher remains the top Canadiens forward against St. Louis with 15 points in 19 games.
The Saturday game kicks off at 4 p.m. at the Enterprise Center and will be broadcast on FDSNMW, TSN2, and RDS. The Canadiens aim for their first three-game winning streak since late November and, immediately after the game, will travel to Texas to face the Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights the intensity and unpredictability of NHL rivalries, proving every game counts in a tightly contested season. With both teams eager to assert dominance, hockey fans can expect a thrilling contest that showcases rising stars and seasoned veterans battling for playoff positioning.
