DENVER — In an exciting finish, the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday night. Kirby Dach and Cole Caufield scored in the shootout, while Jakub Dobes made 22 saves during regulation time, helping secure the victory for Montreal. This win concluded a successful road trip for the Canadiens, who recorded a 4-2 record.
Caufield was responsible for the regulation goal for Montreal, leveling the score after Mackenzie Blackwood, the Avalanche’s goaltender, managed to make 23 saves but faltered in the shootout by stopping just one out of three attempts. The loss ended Colorado’s impressive six-game winning streak.
The game’s first goal came from Mikko Rantanen, who netted his 23rd of the season just 9:01 into the first period. Montreal responded with an equalizer from Caufield, who scored with just 6:35 left in the game during an odd-man rush alongside Nick Suzuki. Both teams had opportunities during overtime, with Blackwood making a crucial save on Kaiden Guhle’s shot early in overtime and Dobes stopping Artturi Lehkonen in the closing moments.
Despite playing a back-to-back series, the Canadiens celebrated their journey home with a win, marking an essential part of their schedule where they are facing 11 of 15 games away from their home arena. For the Avalanche, Blackwood is anticipated to shoulder a significant workload in the absence of Scott Wedgewood, who is sidelined due to a right leg injury. Trent Miner may occasionally step in, but Blackwood is expected to be the primary starter during this period.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Canadiens orchestrated an odd-man rush in the third period. Emil Heineman made a clever pass through the slot to Jake Evans, who was skating down the left side. Blackwood managed to slide across in time, thwarting Evans’ attempted shot and keeping the game tied.
Rantanen’s performance was noteworthy, as he extended his points streak to 13 games, amassing 57 points and placing himself among the top three in the NHL scoring charts.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will host the Vancouver Canucks in Montreal on Monday night, while the Avalanche will conclude a four-game homestand against the Florida Panthers on the same night.
