Historic Night at Bell Centre as Canadiens Overwhelm Avalanche
The Montreal Canadiens delivered a decisive 7-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at the Bell Centre, in a game that resurrected the historic Battle of Quebec after three decades. The Avalanche wore the classic blue home jerseys of the Quebec Nordiques, the franchise that relocated to Denver in 1996, creating a nostalgic spectacle that electrified the Montreal crowd.
Nordiques Tribute Sparks Emotional Atmosphere
The NHL's decision to allow Colorado to wear Nordiques uniforms transformed the evening into more than just a regular-season matchup. The visual of red versus blue jerseys evoked memories of the fierce, often contentious games between the Canadiens and Nordiques in the 1980s and early 1990s. "I think the Nordiques' jerseys got the Canadiens' fans going a little bit more. It was a fun night for us," said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, highlighting the emotional charge in the arena.
Canadiens' Offensive Explosion Ties Season High
Montreal's offense was relentless, tying their season-high with seven goals against an Avalanche team that entered the game with an NHL-best record of 35-8-9. Noah Dobson opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the game, setting the tone for a dominant performance. Suzuki contributed two goals in the first period alone, bringing his total to 115 points in his last 100 games.
Other key contributors included:
- Alexandre Carrier, who scored on a two-on-one break
- Juraj Slafkovsky, who capitalized on a deflection for the final goal
- Jake Evans, who scored into an empty net after a Colorado defensive mishap
Colorado's Struggles Continue in January Slump
The Avalanche lost their second consecutive game for the fourth time this season, with all these mini-slumps occurring in January. Nathan MacKinnon, the NHL's leading goal scorer with 38 goals, was held off the scoresheet and finished with a minus-3 rating. He has managed only two goals in his last 12 games.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood had a particularly difficult night, allowing goals on the first two shots he faced and finishing with a .750 save percentage. "He was playing his first game since Jan. 21, and it showed," the analysis noted, as Wedgewood surrendered seven goals on 25 shots.
Notable Performances and Key Moments
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes made several crucial saves, particularly in the second period where he robbed multiple Colorado players. Despite a .897 save percentage for the game, his performance earned praise from teammates. "I'm happy for him. He has been working hard," Slafkovsky said of Dobes.
The game featured several physical moments, including a high hit by Josh Manson on Kaiden Guhle that went unpenalized after video review. Guhle later returned the physicality by sending former Canadien Artturi Lehkonen airborne with a hit of his own.
Special Teams and Statistical Breakdown
Colorado's power play continued to struggle, going 0-for-2 and failing to score a power-play goal for the fifth consecutive game. Suzuki's second goal was actually scored shorthanded, adding insult to injury for the Avalanche.
Key statistics from the game:
- Canadiens won 54.7% of faceoffs
- Colorado outhit Montreal 25-22
- Dobson led all players with five shots on goal
- Suzuki and Slafkovsky each recorded four shots
Looking Ahead for Both Teams
"It's a good win tonight, but I don't think Buffalo on Saturday won't care that we scored seven today," Slafkovsky cautioned, emphasizing the need for continued focus as the Canadiens prepare for their next opponent. The victory gives Montreal momentum in what Suzuki described as a "super tight" division where "every point is going to matter coming down the stretch."
For Colorado, the loss raises questions about their recent form despite their impressive overall record. The team will need to address their January struggles as they continue their road trip, having now surrendered 12 goals in their last two games against Ottawa and Montreal.
