The Dallas Stars have been the toughest team for the Montreal Canadiens this season, having defeated them more times than any other squad. On November 13 at the Bell Center, the Stars overwhelmed the Canadiens’ goaltenders with seven goals—five against Jakub Dobes in the first 40 minutes and two more against Samuel Montembeault in the final 20 minutes. The Canadiens managed only one goal against backup goalie Casey DeSmith. Though the Washington Capitals scored eight points against Montreal a week later, the Canadiens still managed to score at least four goals in that game. On Sunday at the American Airlines Center, Montreal has a chance to redeem itself.
Montreal, fresh off a loss to Jordan Bennington and the St. Louis Blues, will aim to cap off its seven-game road trip with a victory in Dallas. The challenge won’t be easy. The Stars currently rank third in the standings with 57 points but have lost their last two games and hold a 4-4-2 record over their past ten contests. Dallas has beaten Montreal seven times in their last ten meetings, although the Canadiens won 3-1 in their most recent encounter in Dallas last January, thanks to a goal by Jakub Dobes.
Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens’ coach, has yet to confirm his starting goalie, but since the Christmas break, the team has rotated their netminders. If current trends continue, Samuel Montembeault could get the nod, having performed admirably against the Stars with two wins, two losses, and one draw in six games, a 2.80 goals-against average (GAA), and a .925 save percentage. Jakub Dobes carries a 1-1-0 record with a 3.61 GAA and .870 save percentage against Dallas, while Jacob Fowler has not yet faced the Stars.
On the Stars’ side, although the starting goalie is still unknown, Jake Oettinger has been strong this season, and with the team resting for two days, he is expected to be ready. Oettinger holds a 5-2-0 record against Montreal with a 2.48 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Casey DeSmith, who has a 4-2-2 record, a 2.07 GAA, and a .930 save percentage, is on personal leave, prompting Dallas to recall Remi Poirier from the AHL’s Texas Stars. Poirier, a 24-year-old drafted in 2020, has yet to play in the NHL but has an 8-10-5 AHL record with a 2.77 GAA and a .903 save rate.
Offensively, Nick Suzuki has led the Canadiens against Dallas with 14 points in 11 games, followed by Phillip Danault with 13 points in 24 games, and Brendan Gallagher with seven points in 18 games. Noteworthy defenseman Noah Dobson has six points in nine games, and Cole Caufield has five points in eight games. Ivan Demidov’s five-game scoring streak ended in a 2-0 loss to the Blues, but he notches nine points during that stretch and will look to extend his success on Sunday.
For the Stars, Matt Duchene has 22 points in 27 games against Montreal, Jamie Benn follows closely with 21 points in 23 games, and Mikko Rantanen is the most efficient scorer with 16 points against the Canadiens. Some of Dallas’s top scorers like Wyatt Johnson and Jason Robertson have been left off Olympic rosters, which might affect their current form.
Montreal will need to play a disciplined match, as the Stars have the league’s second-best power play at 29.8% and rank sixth in penalty killing at 82.2%. The Canadiens must also improve their performance in the second period, where Dallas holds a nine-goal advantage, while Montreal is at a minus-12. With Dallas averaging 3.41 goals per game—third highest in the league—the goaltender for Montreal will face a stiff test.
The game is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. and can be viewed on Victory+, TSN2, and RDS. Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Wes McCauley will host, with Ben O’Quinn and CJ Murray as commentators. Following the game, the Canadiens return home with a day off before preparing for a Tuesday match in Brossard against the Calgary Flames.
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Fan Take: This matchup highlights a fascinating rivalry that tests both teams’ resilience and strategy, making it a must-watch for hockey fans. The outcome could influence playoff positioning and momentum, underscoring the intensity and competitiveness that make the NHL so thrilling.
