The Canadiens are carrying real momentum into the week, and the numbers back it up. Montreal sits at 11-3-3, good for 25 points and second place in the Atlantic Division, after stretching its point streak to 10 games with a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
That victory was another reminder that this group is finding ways to handle different game scripts. Montreal jumped out to a 3-0 lead, watched Toronto claw back with two goals early in the third period, then answered right back when Zachary Bolduc scored on the power play to restore the two-goal cushion.
It was the kind of response that has become a theme during this run under Martin St. Louis.
The Canadiens now face a three-game week that should tell a lot about how far this surge can carry. Minnesota comes first on Tuesday at the Bell Centre, followed by a Thursday trip to Boston, then a Saturday home date with Colorado. It’s a tough mix, and the schedule should give Montreal a clearer read on whether this early-season form can hold up against stronger competition.
A big reason the Canadiens have stayed afloat through injuries and pressure moments has been the play of rookie goalie Jacob Fowler. The 21-year-old turned aside 26 shots against Toronto for his eighth win of the season, and he looked calm when the Maple Leafs pushed hard in the third period. Montreal has leaned on that steadiness while sorting through absences in goal.
The offense has gotten help from elsewhere too. Alex Newhook scored twice in the opening period against Toronto, giving Montreal a quick boost and adding another layer to the attack. Chris Kreider also chipped in with a second-period breakaway goal, the kind of finish that shows why the Canadiens wanted him in the lineup.
Nick Suzuki’s return on Nov. 5 after an upper-body injury matters just as much. The captain gives Montreal its most important playmaker and a steady presence down the middle. Kirby Dach is back as well after missing two games, while Josh Anderson was listed as day-to-day for personal reasons on Nov. 8 rather than because of a physical injury.
The injury picture is still something to watch, though. Ivan Demidov remains out with an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve, with an expected absence lasting until at least Nov.
- Mike Matheson is also dealing with a lower-body injury and is projected to return around Nov. 14, which makes his status for the Colorado game worth monitoring.
Samuel Montembeault has been dealing with a lower-body injury too, adding another layer to the goaltending situation as Fowler continues to carry a heavy load.
The week ahead is straightforward enough: Minnesota at home on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. ET, Boston on the road Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
ET, and Colorado back at the Bell Centre on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Wild will test Montreal’s forecheck and pace. The Bruins bring the extra weight that comes with a divisional game.
And the Avalanche may be the toughest offensive challenge of the three, the kind of matchup that punishes mistakes in a hurry.
For now, the Canadiens have built themselves into a good position. They’re getting results, they’re getting contributions from up and down the lineup, and they’re showing they can recover when games get messy. The next three will say plenty about how sustainable all of it really is.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face One Big Kucherov Question Fans Wont Ignore
Nikita Kucherovs trade request out of Tampa Bay has already become one of the summers most intriguing leaguewide storylines, and Montreal has naturally found its way into the conversation. With the winger entering the final year of his contract, the Lightning are in control of the process for now, which means any serious pursuit would have to navigate both Tampa Bays asking price and a market that figures to heat up quickly.
The Canadiens have been mentioned as a possible suitor, which alone is enough to get attention in Montreal given the kind of impact a player like Kucherov would have. But this is still very much a speculative situation, and the reality is that several teams are expected to be in the mix while the Lightning decide how to handle the trade process. For Canadiens fans, it is the kind of name worth watching closely, even if the road to a deal remains anything but simple. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have Fans Watching Detroit For One Big Reason
Jeff Gortons reported trip to Detroit has given Canadiens fans a new team to monitor, and for good reason. The Montreal executives presence in the city has fueled fresh chatter around the Red Wings, with speculation tying the Canadiens to two players who would instantly draw attention if the rumor mill ever turned into something more concrete.
The names floating around are Dylan Larkin and Simon Edvinsson, but the rest is still very much in the rumor stage. Edvinsson is reportedly seeking a trade, while Larkin may be open to broadening his options, yet there has been no confirmation of talks or even a meeting between Gorton and Detroit officials, which leaves the whole situation hanging in the kind of uncertainty that usually keeps fans refreshing their feeds. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Finally Have Hope On Key Injuries Including Demidov
The Canadiens got a small but meaningful sign of progress on the injury front this week, with Ivan Demidov, Samuel Montembeault and Mike Matheson all taking part in on-ice recovery sessions as they work their way back. For a team that has been waiting on key pieces to get healthy, seeing that trio back on skates at least nudges the picture in a better direction and gives Montreal a little more reason to believe help is coming.
Demidovs return had already been pushed beyond the original target date, and the earliest realistic window now points to mid-November. The bigger takeaway for the Canadiens is that all three players appear to be moving toward a return before the end of the month, which would give Martin St. Louis more flexibility in a stretch where every lineup decision has mattered. [Read more 🡒]