After weeks of injury challenges, the Vancouver Canucks looked to get back on track against the Montreal Canadiens, who were themselves on the upswing following recent successes.
Vancouver was boosted by the return of star defenceman Quinn Hughes for their matchup against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Monday night. Hughes, who had been sidelined for four games due to an undisclosed injury, participated actively during practice and the morning skate, expressing his eagerness to contribute after missing valuable game time. "It's nice to be back. Obviously I hate missing time," Hughes remarked on Sunday. He noted the importance of taking care of his body to remain available for the team, having played 190 consecutive games before his injury disruption.
The 25-year-old American, who won the Norris Trophy last year for being the NHL's top defenceman, leads the Canucks this season with eight goals and 24 assists. Despite his return, the Canucks, sporting a record of 18 wins, 12 losses, and eight ties, continued to grapple with the absence of other key players such as centre Elias Pettersson and goalie Thatcher Demko. Pettersson has been out since December 23 due to injury, complicate the Canucks' efforts, particularly after he left the game against the San Jose Sharks, where he scored twice. On the other hand, Demko has only seen action in seven games due to various injuries, including back spasms suffered during the team’s previous game against the Seattle Kraken.
Adding to their worries, winger Dakota Joshua was placed on the injured reserve list just prior to the game, prompting the team to recall forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki from the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks. Joshua, who previously faced serious health issues earlier this season, is reportedly recovering from injuries sustained during gameplay this month.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens have found their rhythm, winning ten of their last fifteen games leading to increased optimism among fans and players alike. They impressively secured two points by edging out the Canucks with a 5-4 victory, thanks to standout performances and pivotal moments during the game. An early highlight was Kaiden Guhle’s impactful opening shift; the young defenceman delivered a spectacular hit on Jonathan Lekkerimaki, energizing the Canadiens bench and playing a significant role throughout the game.
Winning coach Martin St. Louis credited the team's spirit to their recent travel adjustments, thanks to the efforts of Alex Case, who arranged for the Canadiens to stay longer in Colorado before returning to Montreal. "If it had even the slightest effect on them finding the reserves to beat the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, kudos to 'Caser,'" St. Louis stated, emphasizing the importance of every small adjustment made during their challenging travel schedule.
The game, characterized by its intensity and back-and-forth nature, saw the Canadiens battle from behind after the Canucks took the lead 3-1 during the second period. The Canadiens regrouped, with goals from their top players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, who have been instrumental this season and contributed heavily to this victory, pushing the team to regain control and secure their spot for the playoffs. Suzuki’s performance, with three assists, bolstered his season total to 41 points as he continued to lead the team with finesse.
Guhle, who scored his 22nd goal of the season early on, significantly contributed to the Canadiens' revival during the match. Acknowledging the importance of his performance, Caufield noted, "Obviously got us going with the big hit.” He added, "The guy who used to wear number 22 for the Canadiens scored his 22nd goal exactly 22 seconds after the hit, marking it as quite the sequence of events. This connection highlighted the impact Guhle had, especially on the physicality of the game.”
The successful outing represented more than just another win—it pushed the Canadiens ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild-card spot, injecting fresh confidence within the team as they head toward the next phase of the season.
Despite the challenges faced, the resilience demonstrated by both teams showed the depth of talent on the ice, setting the stage for thrilling competitions as the season continues. Both the Canucks and Canadiens will now attempt to leverage these moments as motivation as they pursue their season goals.