Canadiens Aim to Bounce Back Against the Devils in New Jersey
After a tough loss to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this week, the Montreal Canadiens are looking to reset and get back to their winning ways as they take on the New Jersey Devils tonight. Despite the setback, the Habs still hold an impressive position—second overall in the league, trailing only the Colorado Avalanche. But that defeat served as a reminder that early mistakes can be costly, and head coach Martin St-Louis will be hoping his team learned from it.
The Canadiens have confirmed that Jakub Dobes will once again start in goal. The young goaltender has been one of Montreal’s brightest spots this season, remaining undefeated with a flawless 6-0-0 record, a stellar 1.97 goals-against average, and a .930 save percentage. Though he hasn’t faced the Devils much—posting a 0-0-1 record with a 3.74 GAA—this will be a crucial test for him.
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On the blue line, Montreal called up Marc Del Gaizo from the Laval Rocket as extra coverage following Kaiden Guhle’s lower-body injury. Guhle, who was expected to miss four to six weeks, made encouraging progress this week as he returned to the ice in Brossard, albeit without full gear. It’s not a signal that he’s ready to play just yet, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
For the Devils, Jacob Markstrom is expected to start between the pipes. The veteran netminder, who recently returned from injury, has a strong history against Montreal, boasting a 9-8-3 record with a 2.21 GAA and a .925 save percentage. His most recent game against the Canadiens ended in a dominant 4-0 shutout victory, so he’ll be aiming to repeat that performance.
Tonight’s matchup also carries some milestones. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki will be chasing history, trying to extend his point streak to 13 games. If successful, he’ll tie the longest streak by a Canadiens player since Pierre Turgeon achieved the same feat back in the 1994–95 season. Suzuki’s consistent playmaking, combined with Cole Caufield’s scoring prowess—who has nine points in just ten games against the Devils—will be key to Montreal’s attack.
As for the Devils, they’re sitting just one point behind Montreal in the standings, holding a 9-4-0 record. A win tonight would make either side the first team in the league to reach ten victories this season. New Jersey’s offensive threats—like Ondrej Palat, Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes—will certainly keep the Canadiens’ defense on high alert.
Both teams are coming off losses and are eager to rebound. The stage is set at the Prudential Center, with puck drop scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can catch the action live on TSN 2 in English or RDS in French, as two hungry teams battle for early-season momentum and a statement win.
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