In a thrilling matchup, the Montreal Canadiens triumphed over the Colorado Avalanche with a decisive 7-3 victory at the Bell Centre. Captain Nick Suzuki played a pivotal role, scoring both a power-play goal and a short-handed goal, alongside an assist.
Suzuki Shines in Special Teams Play
The game began with an early goal from Noah Dobson, just 56 seconds in, putting the Canadiens ahead. With this win, Montreal improved its record to 30-17-7, showing remarkable performance against Western Conference teams with an 18-6-0 record.
Key Contributions from Canadiens
- Jake Evans scored for the second consecutive game.
- Kirby Dach tallied a goal, marking his first since returning from a 31-game absence.
- Alexandre Carrier and Juraj Slafkovsky added to the score in the third period.
Jakub Dobes, the Canadiens’ goaltender, made 26 stops, enhancing his record to 7-0-1 over his last eight starts. This victory also served as redemption after a previous 7-2 loss to the Avalanche on November 29.
Avalanche’s Struggles
Despite their strong overall record of 35-8-9, the Avalanche was unable to capitalize on their power-play opportunities. They failed to score on both chances during the game, marking 15 consecutive unsuccessful power plays since January 19.
- Scott Wedgewood made 21 saves in his first start since January 21.
- Brock Nelson, Joel Kiviranta, and Ross Colton contributed to Colorado’s offense.
Memorable Moments and Takeaways
One significant highlight occurred when Suzuki, having just scored on the power play, netted a short-handed goal after receiving a pass from Oliver Kapanen. This goal underscored the Canadiens’ effectiveness on special teams.
In a notable twist, the Avalanche donned vintage powder blue Quebec Nordiques jerseys, paying tribute to their team’s origins in Quebec City.
Next Matchups
Both teams will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures:
- Avalanche: Visit the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
- Canadiens: Travel to face the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.
This report highlights the Canadiens’ impressive performance, particularly the contributions from Nick Suzuki and the team’s ability to excel in special teams scenarios.
