The Montreal Canadiens delivered an offensive clinic on Monday night, overwhelming the visiting Vancouver Canucks with a season-high shot volume in a decisive 6-3 victory at the Bell Centre. The win provided goaltender Jakub Dobes with his second consecutive triumph, backed by a potent attack that has now supplied him with 13 goals of support over those two games.
Slafkovsky and Demidov Lead the Charge
The Habs' young stars shone brightly in the contest. Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov each recorded three points, orchestrating the offense and demonstrating the team's promising future. Their efforts were complemented by a remarkable burst from defenseman Alexandre Carrier, who scored two goals in a span of just 20 seconds during the second period, with the first marking his 100th career NHL point.
Captain Nick Suzuki and forward Alexandre Texier also contributed multi-point nights, each chipping in with two assists. The victory improved Dobes' record to an impressive 4-0-1 in his last five starts. He turned aside 20 of the 23 shots he faced on the night.
Canucks' Early Fight Fades in Third Period
The Canucks, mired in a lengthy losing skid, showed brief signs of life. Elias Pettersson opened the scoring, giving Vancouver its first lead in a game since December 30. Evander Kane and Max Sasson also found the back of the net, with Sasson's goal tying the game 3-3 midway through the second period.
However, Montreal's defensive pairing of Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj, along with a forward line centered by Phillip Danault, struggled at even strength. Xhekaj was on the ice for all three goals against, a rare off-night for the physical defender.
Third-Period Onslaught Seals the Deal
The Canadiens put the game away decisively in the final frame. Mike Matheson broke the 3-3 tie just 29 seconds into the third period, and Slafkovsky blasted a shot home only 38 seconds later to extend the lead to 5-3. The scoring was capped by Oliver Kapanen, who finished a precise passing play from Demidov and Slafkovsky.
The result underscored the divergent paths of the two clubs. While the Canadiens capitalized on their chances, the Canucks continued to struggle, particularly in the absence of star defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Looking Ahead: Goalie Rotation Continues
With the team set to play the second half of a back-to-back in Washington on Tuesday, head coach Martin St. Louis is expected to turn to Samuel Montembeault in goal. The win further complicates the team's goaltending picture, as Dobes continues to win games while prospect Jacob Fowler has recently suffered from a lack of offensive support.
The Canadiens now face a busy schedule leading into the Olympic break in February, with 11 games scheduled between now and February 4. The performance against Vancouver suggests the team's offensive firepower is beginning to click at the right time.
