The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, a matchup of significant importance as both teams vie for playoff positioning in the NHL. The game, which took place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, ended in a suspenseful shootout, with the Avalanche claiming a 5-4 victory despite the Canadiens mounting a determined comeback.
As the game unfolded, it quickly became apparent that the Canadiens were struggling. The first period was notably weak for the Habs; not only were they outshot by the Avalanche, but they also failed to register a single scoring chance while allowing Colorado ample opportunities to take the lead. The Avalanche established a formidable presence early on, scoring twice within the first period and marking nine shots just in the opening six minutes. By the end of the first 20 minutes, they held a dominant advantage.
During the second period, that dominance continued as the Avalanche struck again, swiftly taking a 3-0 lead and putting the Canadiens in a precarious position. However, resilience has become a defining characteristic of this Canadiens team, and they demonstrated it in the latter periods of the game. Juraj Slafkovsky finally got the Canadiens on the board with a tip-in goal, proving pivotal with his 15th of the season. Slafkovsky's effort was commendable, showcasing his reach and determination to keep the team in contention.
Things heated up further when Arber Xhekaj engaged in a spirited fight with Avalanche defenceman Keaton Middleton, which significantly tilted the momentum in Montreal’s favor. This skirmish pounced the crowd's energy and built anticipation for the Canadiens' recovery.
Despite the renewed vigor in the second period, the Canadiens found their power play lacking, failing to convert on several opportunities when they could have leveraged the Avalanche's penalties. Defensive lapses and offensive inefficiencies have plagued their season, embodying a struggle they must resolve quickly if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive.
As the game moved into the final third, the Canadiens proved that they were not ready to throw in the towel. In an exhilarating turn of events, they struck twice within a span of just 30 seconds—first from Joshua Roy, and then from Slafkovsky again—bringing the Avalanche's lead down to just one goal. With the crowd firmly behind them, the Canadiens scored three goals in the final period, making it an intense finish as Christian Dvorak managed to tie the game with a brilliant backhand goal that started a frenzy in the stands.
"Dvorak received a pass from Brendan Gallagher, danced around Nelson and tucked a backhand over Blackwood’s left shoulder for a beautiful goal to tie the game," reported Marc Dumont, highlighting a moment that left fans in disbelief and fellow players motivated to continue the push.
With the score knotted at four goals each, the game went into overtime. Unfortunately for Montreal, Slafkovsky's holding penalty late in overtime forced the Canadiens to fend off a crucial power play from the Avalanche. The Canadiens managed to kill the penalty, thanks in part to solid goaltending from Sam Montembeault, who finished the game with several key saves, racking up 33 overall.
In the shootout that followed, the Avalanche would go on to secure their win, with Brock Nelson scoring the decisive goal in the fourth round. He had already tallied a goal and an assist during regulation, showcasing his key role in Colorado's offensive strategy. The Avalanche also saw contributions from Charlie Coyle and Martin Necas, both of whom made their impact felt throughout the game.
Although the Canadiens faced a bitter end to their efforts, they still managed to extend their point streak to six games, a small consolation in what has been a disappointing outcome. They currently stand within the second wild-card position in the Eastern Conference with 75 points, maintaining a slender one-point lead over the New York Rangers.
Montreal’s upcoming schedule is no easier; they will embark on a demanding four-game road trip starting with a contest against the St. Louis Blues on March 25. The stakes couldn’t be higher as they fight to solidify their playoff position. However, their performance in pushing back against the Avalanche after being down 3-0 demonstrates the tenacity they’ll need if they are to prevail through the rest of the season.
For Canadiens fans, while the disappointment of a shootout loss lingers, their team has shown they can rise from adversity, and with continued determination, playoffs might not be out of reach just yet.
