Canadiens Stun Avalanche With Seven-Goal Offensive Surge

Challenges don’t come much bigger in the NHL than facing the Colorado Avalanche, a team that had only dropped seven games in over 50 outings this season. But on January 29, 2026, at Montreal’s Bell Centre, the Montreal Canadiens didn’t just rise to the occasion—they delivered a statement performance that stunned the league. With a dazzling display of creativity and relentless pressure, the Canadiens tied their season-high for goals in a game, routing the Avalanche 7-3 in front of a roaring home crowd.

The Avalanche, known for their dominance in the salary cap era, entered the contest with a 31-2-7 record and the league’s best start in recent memory. Yet, the Canadiens, holding the eighth-best record in the league, showed they weren’t content to play second fiddle. From the opening puck drop, Montreal’s intent was clear: they were here to prove a point.

It took less than a minute for the Canadiens to strike. Noah Dobson, fresh off a new defensive pairing with Lane Hutson, blasted a one-timer just 56 seconds in, setting the tone for what would become a night of offensive fireworks. Hutson, lauded as perhaps the best puck distributor among defensemen, found Dobson with a crisp feed, and Dobson did the rest. The chemistry between the two was evident, with Dobson’s tenth goal of the season coming on their very first shift together.

Colorado responded quickly, with Brock Nelson weaving through traffic and using Hutson as a screen to snap home his 28th goal of the year at 4:09. But the Avalanche’s hopes for a quick recovery were dashed by a relentless Montreal attack. When Keaton Middleton was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking, the Canadiens wasted no time. Ivan Demidov’s shot from the right circle was stopped by Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood, but Nick Suzuki pounced on the rebound at 5:51, notching a power-play goal and his 17th of the season.

Suzuki wasn’t done. Barely two minutes later, Oliver Kapanen made a smart play during a Colorado power play, flipping the puck high out of the zone. Suzuki, showing blistering speed, won the footrace and coolly deked Wedgewood for a shorthanded goal at 7:33—his 18th of the campaign. That tally marked Colorado’s ninth shorthanded goal allowed this season, the most in the NHL, and put Montreal up 3-1 early.

“Yeah, it’s not good enough,” said Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, reflecting on the repeated shorthanded breakdowns. “Basically all on me for most of them. I’ve just got to be the last guy back. Especially the one tonight, I thought it was going down for icing. In that scenario, you can’t really think about it. You’ve got to just turn around and skate.”

The Avalanche tried to steady themselves in the second period, generating several quality chances, but Montreal’s Jakub Dobes was up to the task. Dobes, who had struggled in a previous outing against Colorado, turned aside 26 shots on the night, making key saves during a critical stretch as the Avalanche pressed for a comeback.

Then, the floodgates opened. At 16:36 of the second, a misplay by Wedgewood behind his own net allowed Jake Evans to swoop in, steal the puck, and wrap it into an empty cage for Montreal’s fourth goal. Less than a minute later, Kirby Dach showcased his creativity, banking the puck off Wedgewood’s skate from behind the net to make it 5-1. Dach’s confidence and stick skills were on full display—a tantalizing reminder of the potential that made him a prized acquisition.

The Avalanche managed to claw one back early in the third, with Joel Kiviranta scoring on a rebound just 50 seconds in. Ross Colton followed up at 4:38, breaking a 25-game goalless drought to cut the deficit to 5-3. Suddenly, with more than 15 minutes left, there was a hint of drama. But Montreal was having none of it.

On the very next shift, a blocked shot led to a Canadiens odd-man rush. Alexandre Carrier, joining the attack with remarkable hustle, buried a one-timer from Suzuki at 5:45 to restore the four-goal lead. The night’s scoring concluded with Juraj Slafkovsky tapping in his 20th goal of the season at 9:55, tying his career high. The former first overall pick continues his breakout campaign, with 28 games left to set a new personal best.

For Colorado, it was another night to forget in a rough stretch—eight losses in their last 12 games, including two in as many nights. “Just having trouble putting the puck in the net, and we’re having trouble keeping it out of our net right now, too,” admitted Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. “It’s kind of tough sledding for us right now, but we’ve got to be a little better in some areas again than we were tonight.”

Wedgewood, who allowed seven goals on 28 shots, shouldered the blame. “That’s a goalie loss,” he said candidly. “It’s unfortunate they get one super early and then … just nothing clean for me. I made some choices I’ve prided myself on not making and it cost us. I’m OK with some of those going in. It’s just the bounces and situations you put yourself in that cause bounces was something I needed to smarten up on today. For whatever reason, it was just one of those nights that gives you a slice of humble pie.”

Montreal’s victory was a team effort, with notable performances across the lineup. Zachary Bolduc’s work ethic and intelligence continued to impress, Mike Matheson’s decision-making stood out against Colorado’s aggressive forecheck, and Kaiden Guhle delivered a highlight-reel hit on Artturi Lehkonen. But the night also underscored the Canadiens’ ongoing goaltending saga. Despite the win, Montreal ranks just 26th out of 32 teams in goaltending this season, with save percentages of .902 for Jacob Fowler, .890 for Dobes, and a disappointing .868 for Samuel Montembeault.

The struggles in net led to a major shakeup: on January 28, goalie coach Eric Raymond was relieved of his duties, replaced by Marco Marciano. Management’s move signals a belief that the team’s goaltenders are capable of more and that technical development—rather than emotional issues—is the key to improvement down the stretch.

As the Canadiens continue their playoff push, this emphatic win over one of the league’s giants sends a clear message: Montreal isn’t just along for the ride. With offensive creativity firing on all cylinders and a renewed commitment to solving their goaltending puzzle, the Canadiens have given their fans—and the rest of the NHL—plenty to talk about. The road ahead remains challenging, but after a night like this at the Bell Centre, anything feels possible for this young, dynamic squad.