The Montreal Canadiens returned to their winning ways at the Bell Centre on Thursday, December 18, 2025, with a convincing 4-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. The story of the night was forward Zachary Bolduc, who finally broke through on home ice with his first two goals of the season in front of the Montreal faithful.
Bolduc Breaks the Ice at Home
With pressure mounting due to his lack of production at the Bell Centre, Zachary Bolduc delivered a performance that silenced any doubts. He opened his account midway through the game, firing a powerful shot from the slot off a setup from Cole Caufield to tie the game 1-1. His second goal, which proved to be the game-winner, came just 20 seconds into the third period. Bolduc expertly deflected a Lane Hutson point shot between his legs, showcasing quick hands and awareness.
The Blackhawks, playing without their star Connor Bedard (upper-body injury), struck first. After having an earlier goal overturned for goaltender interference, Frank Nazar ended his own 20-game scoring drought to give Chicago a brief 1-0 lead.
Defensive Adjustments Pay Dividends
With veteran defenceman Mike Matheson sidelined for a second consecutive game, the Canadiens' blue line required adjustments. Lane Hutson rose to the occasion, logging a massive 26:19 of ice time and contributing three assists with a plus-3 rating.
Perhaps more notably, the new third pairing of Arber Xhekaj and rookie Adam Engstrom showed significant promise. Both players saw season-high ice times, with Xhekaj at 16:17 and Engstrom at 16:13. Their steady, physical play provided reliable depth and has sparked conversation about the team's defensive hierarchy moving forward.
In contrast, fellow defenceman Jayden Struble was largely benched in the third period, playing only 37 seconds, after posting a minus-1 rating in 10:26 of total ice time.
Goaltending and Challenges Shape the Game
Goaltender Jakub Dobes continued his strong play, backstopping the Canadiens to their second win of the week. After allowing a goal on the first shot he faced, Dobes stopped the next 14 for a solid victory. The game was also marked by successful coach's challenges. Montreal's Martin St. Louis had Chicago's first goal wiped out, while Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill successfully challenged potential goals by Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson for offside.
Montreal's other goals came from Noah Dobson, who was credited after a scramble in front that may have involved Owen Beck, and an empty-net marker from captain Nick Suzuki to seal the 4-1 final score.
The win improves Montreal's home record to 9-9-1 this season. They now sit just one point out of the Atlantic Division lead. The Canadiens close out their four-game home stand on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins before embarking on a challenging seven-game holiday road trip.
