The Colorado Avalanche delivered a brutal reality check to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, November 29, 2025, with a decisive 7-2 victory at Ball Arena in Denver. The lopsided loss underscored the significant distance Montreal must travel to become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Nordiques Tribute Adds Historical Context
The game carried special significance as the Avalanche wore Quebec Nordiques throwback uniforms as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations. This nod to hockey history revived memories of the intense provincial rivalry that once defined Quebec hockey, including the legendary Good Friday Massacre of 1984 that featured 252 penalty minutes and 11 ejections.
The Avalanche dominance was evident from the start, with Brock Nelson opening scoring 7.5 minutes into the first period. This marked Nelson's 600th career point, and he would add another goal and two assists in the commanding performance.
Avalanche Continue Record-Setting Season
Colorado's victory extended their impressive season record to 18-1-6, with their only regulation loss coming against Boston on October 25. The team had won 10 consecutive games before a shootout loss at Minnesota on Friday, and they remain undefeated in regulation at home with a 10-0-2 record.
The Avalanche are currently on pace for an NHL-record 136 points, which would surpass the Boston Bruins' 135-point season in 2022-23. Twelve of their 18 victories have been by three goals or more, demonstrating their overwhelming offensive capabilities.
Canadiens Struggle in Second Period
Montreal's recurring second-period problems continued to plague them, being outscored 36-24 in middle frames this season. The game turned decisively when Brent Burns scored just 48 seconds into the second period, followed by three more Colorado goals before the period ended.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes faced 36 shots and posted a .806 save percentage, allowing goals on the third, sixth, 15th, 17th, 24th, 25th and 31st shots he faced. Dobes received little defensive support as the Avalanche's offensive pressure proved relentless throughout the game.
Montreal captain Nick Suzuki acknowledged the team's defensive shortcomings, telling media in Denver: "I thought we had a pretty decent start. Then we kind of had a few mental mistakes that cost us some goals. We didn't defend well enough. I thought our coverage was sloppy at times."
Bright Spots Amid the Defeat
Despite the overwhelming loss, some Canadiens players managed individual achievements. Cole Caufield extended his point streak to seven games with an assist on Lane Hutson's third-period goal. Juraj Slafkovsky also contributed with a pass that set up Ivan Demidov for Montreal's first goal.
The game featured several notable performances from Colorado veterans, including 40-year-old defenseman Brent Burns, who scored his goal while playing in his 950th consecutive game. Nathan MacKinnon also made an immediate impact upon entering the game, scoring Colorado's fifth goal in the final minute of the second period.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis summarized the challenge his team faced: "Give credit to the Avalanche. It's a good, veteran team. Lot of skill. Lot of speed and execute very well. They made some mistakes early that we didn't capitalize on."
The defeat leaves Montreal with significant questions about their defensive structure and ability to compete against the NHL's elite teams as they continue their rebuilding process.
