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...
Maple Leafs Loss To Montreal Came With An Even Bigger Concern
The Maple Leafs left Montreal with more than a loss to sort through after a 4-2 defeat that featured a strong night from the Canadiens and an unwelcome injury scare for Toronto. Alex Newhook drove the offense for Montreal, Zachary Bolduc added a power-play goal and Jacob Fowler turned aside 26 shots as the Canadiens controlled enough of the game to hand Toronto another frustrating result.
Morgan Riellys exit in the second period with a lower-body injury quickly became the bigger concern for the Leafs, especially with the team already trying to steady itself after the loss. Toronto will want clarity on Riellys status soon, because the blue line takes on a different look when one of its most important defensemen is forced out early. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Loss To Montreal Brought One Big Concern Into Focus
The Maple Leafs came out of a 4-2 loss to Montreal with more than just two points left on the table, as Jim Hillers postgame update centered on Morgan Riellys injury status and the lack of any fresh information beyond the fact that it remains a serious concern. Hiller also touched on the broader picture, pointing to the teams effort and game management while trying to sort through a night that exposed a few different issues at once.
There was at least one bright spot in John Tavares return, which Hiller said had a positive effect on William Nylanders play, but the mood around the room was still shaped by the injuries and mistakes that piled up. Hiller also addressed Gavin McKennas turnovers as part of the conversation, a reminder that Torontos margin for error is getting thinner as it tries to steady itself after another uneven outing. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face One Huge Question As Superstar Fit Emerges
A fan-driven trade idea making the rounds this week put Toronto in the middle of another big-name defense discussion, and the reaction was about as lopsided as it gets. The proposed deal would have brought Detroits Simon Edvinsson into the Maple Leafs orbit, but voters overwhelmingly shot it down, with 92% disapproving the concept.
The interest in Edvinsson still says something about where Torontos attention is right now, especially with the market for impact players never far from the conversation. Even as other teams sort out their own lineup situations, the Leafs are left weighing whether a move like that ever makes sense for their roster, cap picture and long-term blue-line plans, which is exactly why this kind of chatter keeps hanging around. [Read more 🡒]