Avalanche vs Canadiens: Montreal erupts for seven goals as Nordiques nostalgia returns to the rivalry

The Avalanche vs Canadiens matchup turned lopsided late Thursday night, with Montreal pouring on offense and skating away from Colorado in a game that doubled as both a standings statement and a reminder of how quickly a back-to-back can unravel. With under a minute left in regulation at the Bell Centre, the Canadiens led 7-3 after scoring in bunches across all three periods.

The result came in a spot that already carried extra weight: Colorado entered the night atop the Central Division, while Montreal began the game in the thick of the Atlantic race. Further specifics were not immediately available on any postgame lineup decisions or immediate roster moves that might follow.

Suzuki drives the surge as Montreal wins special-teams moments early

Montreal’s tone was set quickly and decisively. The Canadiens struck in the opening minute and then leaned on Nick Suzuki to break the game open, with Suzuki delivering two first-period goals that showcased the full range of special-teams swing.

One came on the power play, and another arrived short-handed, a rare combination that can flip a game’s script in a matter of shifts. The Canadiens kept adding layers: Jake Evans and Kirby Dach found the net as well, and the home side carried a multi-goal edge into the later stages while Colorado chased.

Colorado’s scoring came from Brock Nelson, Joel Kiviranta, and Ross Colton, but the Avalanche never found the sustained push they needed to pull Montreal back into a tight third period. Some specifics have not been publicly clarified about whether Colorado will adjust its defensive pairings in response, particularly with key personnel unavailable.

Nordiques colors, modern stakes: why this game hits differently

Even when the score is one-sided, Avalanche–Canadiens games can feel emotionally louder than a typical interconference night because of the franchise history that still trails Colorado in Quebec. The Avalanche began life as the Quebec Nordiques before relocating in the mid-1990s, and that legacy continues to surface whenever the team returns to Montreal.

That history was impossible to miss Thursday, as the Avalanche leaned into the Nordiques connection with heritage styling that instantly reignites old memories for fans who still view Canadiens–Nordiques as one of hockey’s signature rivalries from the 1980s. It’s a modern matchup now, but the atmosphere changes when the past is pulled back onto the ice.

For Montreal, the win also lands as a practical boost in a crowded Atlantic picture, where points against high-end opponents matter not just in the standings but in confidence and tiebreak scenarios later in the spring.

How back-to-backs and the NHL points system can snowball a bad night

The NHL’s standings math can punish small slumps. Two points for a win and the tight clustering of teams in most divisions means a single ugly loss can look bigger than it is, especially when it comes after travel and limited recovery time.

Back-to-backs add a second layer. Teams often manage energy by shortening shifts, simplifying breakouts, and protecting the middle of the ice early to avoid chasing. When special-teams goals swing early, that plan can disappear fast, forcing more risks and creating more odd-man looks the other way. That’s also when goaltenders can get hung out, because fatigue shows up as missed assignments and slower rotations more than as obviously tired legs.

Colorado was also playing without Devon Toews, and Gabriel Landeskog remains out, forcing the Avalanche into less familiar looks. Montreal has its own availability concerns, including Patrik Laine remaining sidelined, but the Canadiens’ depth contributed throughout the lineup on a night where their scoring arrived from multiple names.

What it means for fans and what comes next on the schedule

This outcome touches more than just the two dressing rooms. Traveling supporters and season-ticket holders feel it immediately because these are the games circled on the calendar, while players and staff feel it in the grind of the schedule, especially during stretches where recovery time is minimal. Fantasy and hockey-betting audiences also get a reminder that back-to-backs can amplify volatility, particularly when special teams tilt the ice early.

Next up, Colorado’s road trip continues with a matinee in Detroit against the Red Wings on Saturday, January 31, 2026, a scheduled start that forces another quick turnaround after a physically and mentally draining night in Montreal.