Canadiens under pressure as Avalanche arrive fueled with extra motivation at the Bell Centre
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
The challenge will be a big one for the Montreal Canadiens tonight, as the Colorado Avalanche arrive at the Bell Centre with extra motivation.
The Denver-based club comes to town the day after a lopsided loss to the Senators in Ottawa.
Colorado fell 5–2 on Wednesday night, delivering a performance well below its usual standards.
The Avalanche’s devastating offense was limited to just 17 shots on goal in that matchup.
The team’s heavy hitters were kept quiet, a rare occurrence for the league’s top-ranked squad.
Nathan MacKinnon, the engine of the club’s offense, had a tough night with a -3 rating.
The star player is also going through his longest goal drought of the 2025–2026 season, having failed to score in his last four games.
You can therefore expect a hungry and motivated team to hit the ice tonight looking to bounce back.
Nathan MacKinnon will try to snap his drought against the Canadiens
Despite that stumble in the nation’s capital, the Avalanche still sit atop the overall NHL standings with an impressive 79 points.
The Senators, meanwhile, used the win to climb to 57 points, moving within eight points of a playoff spot.
Tonight’s matchup will carry a special twist, as the visitors will be wearing the Quebec Nordiques throwback jerseys.
The Canadiens will need to be ready to face a team that’s known for responding strongly after a loss.
Jakub Dobes and Montreal’s defensive corps will have their hands full trying to contain the league’s best team, which is also looking to regain its rhythm ahead of the Olympic break.
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