Montreal Canadiens welcome Colorado Avalanche to Bell Centre for Saturday night showdown

The Montreal Canadiens welcome the Colorado Avalanche to the Bell Centre for a Saturday night showdown.

Martin St. Louis's team has a narrow two-point lead (74 points) over the New York Islanders (72 points), and both teams have played 68 games. With the New York Rangers just behind the Islanders with (72 points in 70 games) and the Columbus Blue Jackets just behind them, it's muddy behind Montreal. Having said that, each game is important, but none more important than the upcoming one with the Avalanche.

Colorado sits third in the Central Division with 87 points, and a four-point lead on the top wildcard team Minnesota Wild (83 points), but Minnesota has a game in hand on the Avalanche. The Avalanche aren't playing desperate hockey, but they will certainly give the Canadiens a great game. Montreal is looking to establish themselves as playoff contenders, and what better way to do that than against Colorado?

The Canadiens top line is rolling, and though Mikko Rantanen is no longer in Denver, general manager Joe Sakic has put together a formidable squad. MacKinnon currently holds a four-point lead (105 points) over Leon Draisaitl (101 points) for the league lead in points. Makar, yeah that guy, has 26 goals and 55 assists, sitting at 81 points through 70 games.

Colorado hosts five players with 20-plus goals, and Valeri Nichuskin sits at 18 goals. Safe to say, the Avalanche have a balanced offensive attack. In comparison, only Nick Suzuki (21) and Cole Caufield (33) have more than 20 goals, the next most (17) on the Canadiens is two players - Patrik Laine and Brendan Gallagher. Montreal enters the game as the clear underdog, but they know that every game is a must-win.

Playoff mode, best be activated for the Habs, which it has, and the Aves won't bring anything short of their best effort either.

It should be a dandy.

Onto the game

The Canadiens announced on Saturday that Samuel Montembeault would get the start between the pipes, as reported by TVA Sports hockey reporter Renaud Lavoie.

Mike Matheson gets the first shot on net, from the neutral zone, less than 10 seconds in, prompting the second faceoff of the game.

Josh Anderson has welcomed Ryan Lindgren into the game with three massive hits, surely the pair remember one another from his time with the New York Rangers. Either way, Anderson appears intent on making it a long night for Lindgren. Hitting him three times in one shift.

Montreal has started fast, and with plenty of heavy body checks, they didn't get the memo that the Avalanche are the higher-ranked team. That doesn't matter to this team that has turned a corner since the return from the Four Nations Faceoff break.

Cale Makar just fired a howitzer towards Montembeault, after receiving a quick pass from Nathan MacKinnon at the top of the zone.

Colorado has the Canadiens hemmed in their zone, and Lane Hutson almost cleared the zone, just missing on a wraparound behind the net from Jayden Struble.

Five minutes are off the clock, and the Avalanche hold a 7-2 shot edge and have spent some consistent time in Montreal's zone. Montembeault has been tested often, very early on, in comparison to Mackenzie Blackwood at the other end between the pipes.

Patrik Laine put his hand over the shoulder of countrymen, and former Hab Artturi Lekhonen, after Montembeault made another save. Hutson and Brock Nelson didn't share the same sentiment, and Struble gave Nelson a shove for good measure after he was trying to throw No. 35 off his game.

Colorado made the most of a quick breakout, attacking three versus two on the rush, and Joel Kiviranta spotted Sam Malinski entering the zone, who he hit with a great pass. Malinski blasted a one-touch slapshot past Montembeault to open the scoring,

Montreal is trying to match Colorado's aggressive forechecking and backchecking, but the Avalanche are just heavier than the Habs overall. This makes for some heavy battles in the corners.

Colorado is flexing their offensive prowess on the Habs pretty heavily, and Lindgren squeezed a snapshot through the wickets on Montembeault, to pull ahead 2-0. Montreal has to be feeling the heat from the Rangers, who won their game in regulation today to draw even with the Habs. Martin St. Louis's squad needs the two points tonight to diffuse any risk to their spot on the second wildcard perch.

Trailing 2-0, with just two shots on net after 12 minutes of play isn't exactly what Marty had drawn up. But Colorado is having their way with Montreal, and Montembeault gave up a bad goal early.

It has been all Colorado, except for Anderson who is hitting everything like a Mac Truck. He has created a bit of a spark, which gave the Habs some energy. Which helped them to draw a slashing penalty by Ross Colton on Juraj Slafkovsky.

A goal here would go a long way, with the Habs facing some real heat from the Avalanche. They are lucky the score isn't double what it is for Colorado.

Off the faceoff, Caufield's pass was too hot for Hutson to handle, so back to their zone they go to recollect themselves. Caufield nearly put the Habs first goal of the game into the net, but Blackwood's right pad had other ideas.

Slafkovsky had a glorious opportunity to fire a one-time on the right half-wall, off a great pass from Hutson. But instead dusted it off, and tried to make another pass. Once he gets that out of his mind, and just shoots the puck, Montreal will be a much better offensive team.

The Avalanche penalty kill, much like their performance so far, was too much for the Habs to handle. Colorado has no blemishes with 3:28 on the clock.

If there had ever been a period to throw the tape into the garbage, this would be the one for the Canadiens. Puck bounces have not gone their way, and the Avalanche converge on every Habs opportunity before they can formulate anything.

With 1:36 on the clock, Colorado has 13 shots to Montreal's six, and they have done a tremendous job keeping the Habs out of their zone for any significant stretch of the first period.

Collecting passes off the boards, and on the rush has been a glaring issue for Montreal, and they will need to clean it up fast. Otherwise, Colorado is going to run away with this game.

Second Period

With the shots 16-9 for Colorado, a shooter's mentality, paired with heavy forechecking would be in my books. I would swap Emil Heineman with Joshua Roy, and then watch the second line take off quick. The line lacks a physical identity (the second line), Heineman would be tremendous.

I am expecting a big period for Juraj Slafkovsky, one of the Habs guys who can make a difference with closing speed, and raw physicality.

Anderson has been the engine that drives the Habs tonight, and Keaton Middleton had a problem with that, shoving him after the whistle. Arber Xhekaj didn't like it very much, so he decided to punch him in the head as many times as he could. It was quite the battle, have a look.

If the Habs need energy, I think Xhekaj contribution should spark a fire.

Montreal had about 40 seconds where they were all over the Avalanche, using their speed to create off the rush. But they got caught with six players on the ice, so Colorado is off to the power play.

Jake Evans and Joel Armia have their hands full for the next two minutes or so. A great clear has cut off 15 seconds. However, Colorado is right back at it, Martin Necas finished off a great cross-crease feed from Jonathan Drouin.

Colorado leads 3-0.

Montreal was in the midst of answering the Avalanche, but the power play goal stings.

Struble and Hutson have been incredible paired together, and this time Struble made a great play at the blueline to fire a puck at the net. Slafkovsky sat in the low slot waiting for the puck, and he deflected it past Blackwood, for his 15th goal of the season. Suzuki has his 51st assist of the season, and Struble has his ninth.

It's incredible what a goal can do for a team's confidence, after the Habs put one on the board, barely a minute is off the clock, and the Canadiens are off to the power play. Miles Wood tripped Laine, who has shown some improved footspeed of late. Great penalty drawn by No. 92.

The Habs haven't looked cohesive through the first 30 seconds of the power play, with Colorado's forecheck causing issues. But Caufield pushed through for a nice scoring chance.

1:14 remains on the power play, and the puck is back near the Habs zone, with Hutson leading a charge through the neutral zone. Slafkovsky and Caufield made their way to the net front, but nothing came together.

Matheson had a great chance to rush the puck to the net, but forced a pass, that was intercepted.

Though they have one on the board, they are still not making crisp passes, and the pass retrievals have been atrocious.

With 8:55 to go, the shots are 19-14 for the Aves, who still have their two-goal lead intact.

Struble threw a big boy hit on Charlie Coyle, and after the ensuing whistle, all hell broke loose. Struble got cross-checked in his teeth by Coyle, which ignited Anderson. Slowly but surely, the playoff feels have crept into this game.

Anderson could be seen making his way to the locker room, during the stoppage.

Coyle and Colton each have a minor, and Anderson has one too. The Canadiens are off to the power play with 6:33 left in the period.

Devon Toews has been a thorn in Suzuki's side, cutting off rim-ins and firing them out of the zone in one motion.

Hutson collected the puck entering Colorado's zone and drew a key penalty with his speed. Five on three for Montreal awaits.

Lots of space out there, for nearly a minute.

The first penalty is finished, and Montreal is still searching for something. But Colorado has been great on the PK tonight.

Toews was sprung coming out of the box and cranked a wrist shot off the bar behind Montembeault. But it stayed out, much to the delight of the Bell Centre. Then Middleton caught Laine with his leg out, but the infractions went uncalled.

Matheson is off to the box for roughing MacKinnon, after he had drawn a penalty against him, then lost his cool. Ahead of us is some four-on-four hockey for two minutes.

Lekhonen had a great chance, but No. 35 turned him aside.

I don't want to count how many rebounds have been left untouched around Blackwood, it makes me want to scream.

Colorado maintains their two-goal lead after 40 minutes, heading into the second intermission.

Third Period

Xhekaj had a stick wrapped around him, and somehow didn't draw a penalty.

Three minutes are off the clock already, in what has been a quick start to the final frame.

Matheson and Valeri Nichushkin engaged in a battle out front of Montembeault, and the pair strumbled into No. 35, but it went uncalled.

Montembeault lets in another squeaker from the blueline, basically ending his night, but not to be. With 16:02 on the clock, Montreal is down 4-1, and struggling to steady the ship.

15:07 reads on the scoreboard, and Hutson sits behind Montembeault, planning his blueprint to get to Colorado's net.

Middleton stays right with Slafkovsky, who tries to drive the puck to the net and then finishes his check on him in the corner.

Dvorak got tripped by Middleton, and the referee's performed their best three blind mice act.

Off the back of a great rush to the net by Alex Newhook, Joshua Roy cleaned up a greasy rebound and scored his second of the season.

And about a hop, skip and a jump later, the Habs strike again, drawing with one of the Aves. Slafkovsky enters the slot and works to the middle, before firing a perfect wrist shot through Blackwood for his 16th of the season.

Slafkovsky is on hat trick watch, and the Habs would be wise to get the puck on his stick with 9:14 to go, and the Habs in need of the next goal. Caufield just missed a shot from the low slot, that would have the roof of the Bell Centre in need of repair.

After the faithful Habs fans blew the roof off of the place.

The crowd is electric, and they have certainly ignited the boys in bleu, blanc & rouge. Matheson almost sent the arena into a frenzy with a great feed from Roy, and he rushed to the net. Blackwood stood tall.

7:40 remains, and the energy is off the charts, with Montreal gunning hard for their fourth goal of the night. And as the clock bled to 6:29, elite sniper Christian Dvorak put a masterful, Pablo Picasso-like backhand top shelf past Blackwood to tie the game.

This team is all heart, wow.

Off of a great cycle, the puck popped out in the slot, and Alexandre Carrier fired a great wrister at Blackwood, who absorbed the puck like a magnet on the refrigerator.

Montreal, & Colorado are even 4-4, and their is just five minutes and change left in the game.

2:20 remains, and both sides are giving up no space out there, and the arena chants on.

The go-ahead goal might have been on Newhook's stick, but we will never know. He was interfered with, but not in the official's opinion.

10.7 seconds remain, guaranteeing one point for the Habs, which makes this effort an absolute five-star performance for the Canadiens.

Overtime will decide the second point.

Extra Time

Colorado had a great cycle coming of the rush, and Montembeault made a brilliant stop. Hutson collected the puck behind the net and worked it to Newhook, who worked his way up the ice quickly with Laine supporting him. Blackwood made the stop, however.

Slafkovsky got caught reaching his left hand over Makar's shoulder, sending the Avalanche to the power play, with 2:25 on the clock.

The Avalanche have a full two minutes, and Makar, MacKinnon and the top unit get to practice.

Or maybe not, because the Canadiens penalty kill is gutting out a scrappy performance.

Matheson was going to the net, like a horse with a rider on his back, but earned no call. He did, however, ride the Canadiens into the shootout.

Shootout will determine the winner.

Shootout

Cole Caufield is the first shooter, and his attempt came up just short, getting turned aside by Blackwood's blocker.

Charlie Coyle skated in slow, and then outwaited Montembeault on the backhand to beat him.

Nick Suzuki outwaited Blackwood, but his stick moves didn't do very much at all.

Valeri Nichushkin came short on his attempt.

Then Patrik Laine scored a nasty backhander on his attempt.

Nathan MacKinnon has his turn, and Montembeault's pad came up huge.

Christian Dvorak tried to outwait Blackwood, and then score a quick backhand, forehand shot, but he fell down before he could shoot the puck.

Brock Nelson skated down for his attempt, and made a great move to beat Montembeault, icing the Habs bid, after their heroic effort to tie the game, and force a shootout after killing off a penalty in overtime.

Impressive night for Montreal.