The Canadiens are taking an unusual step before Saturday’s meeting with the Avalanche: no practice on Friday in Brossard.
After Montreal’s convincing 5-2 win in Boston, Martin St-Louis gave his team the day off instead of sending them back to the ice at the CN Sports Complex. It’s a clear sign the Canadiens are leaning into recovery after a stretch that has them rolling.
Montreal has won eight of its last ten games and hasn’t lost in regulation over that span, going 8-0-2. The latest win over the Bruins featured contributions all over the lineup.
Jacob Fowler turned aside 30 of 32 shots, Jake Evans scored the game-winner and added an assist, and Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Phillip Danault also found the net. Josh Anderson added a goal and an assist as well.
With that kind of balance showing up night after night, St-Louis has reason to protect his group’s legs rather than squeeze in another practice.
The Avalanche come to the Bell Centre trying to respond after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Colorado is 11-6-3 through 20 games and sits third in the Central Division, but its road record has been a problem at 4-5-1.
Montreal has had the opposite split away from home, going 7-1-1 on the road. At the Bell Centre, though, the Canadiens are still looking to sharpen things up. Their 5-2-3 home record leaves room for improvement, even with the strong overall start.
Saturday gives Montreal a chance to keep the momentum going and clean up the home-ice results at the same time. Colorado won’t make that easy, but the Canadiens will enter the matchup rested and in form.
In Other News...
Ivan Demidov Update Leaves Canadiens Fans With More Concern Than Clarity
Ivan Demidovs recovery has become one of the quieter storylines around the Canadiens, but it is drawing plenty of attention because of how little has been shared publicly. The winger remains on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury on Sept. 21, and the current expectation is that he will not be back before Nov. 14. Montreal has kept a tight lid on his rehab process, with limited access to his sessions, leaving fans to piece together what they can from the occasional update.
Recent reports offered only a small window into where things stand, noting that Demidov skated once between Monday and Wednesday and is still wearing a walking boot. That has done little to ease concern, especially with speculation still floating around about whether surgery could be part of the picture. For a player the Canadiens are surely eager to have back in the mix, the uncertainty has only made the wait feel longer. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Have Found A Pairing They Can Trust Most
Mike Matheson was back in the lineup against the Bruins after missing six games, and his return came with an immediate reminder of why the Canadiens value him so highly. Paired with Kaiden Guhle, he spent a heavy share of his shifts against Boston star David Pastrk, and the duo helped drive down his expected goal percentage in a game Montreal needed to keep under control.
Guhle and Matheson have only had limited time together this season, but the early results have been encouraging enough to stand out. For a Canadiens team still sorting out its defensive identity, having a pairing that can handle top-end matchups cleanly gives the coaching staff a look it can trust, especially when the oppositions best player is on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Carey Price Return Sparks Canadiens Debate Fans Never Expected
Carey Prices recent appearance at the Bell Centre stirred up more than nostalgia for Canadiens fans. Alain Chantelois took issue with the way the moment was handled, arguing that after so many years in Quebec, Price should have been encouraged to say more than two words in French. The criticism landed in a market where language and hockey have long been intertwined, and where the teams biggest figures are often judged by more than what they do on the ice.
Chantelois pointed to other Canadiens and Expos players who made an effort to learn French as a way to connect more deeply with the fan base. It is the kind of debate that tends to surface around Montreal whenever a familiar face returns, even as the club enjoys a strong spot in the standings after its win over Boston. For all the on-ice momentum, the conversation around Price showed how quickly the focus in Montreal can shift to the cultural expectations that come with wearing the sweater. [Read more 🡒]