The Montreal Canadiens are aiming to return to winning form and strengthen their defense as they face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Canadiens hold a 9-3-1 record and rank first in the Atlantic Division.
They recently lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 in a home shootout. The Flyers established a 3-0 lead after the first period, but Montreal responded with four goals in the second period. The Canadiens conceded the tying goal midway through the third period.
Montreal was outshot 42-20 yet led in faceoffs, 38-20. The team converted 2 of 4 power play opportunities and successfully killed 4 out of 6 penalties. Their power play sparked the offensive momentum that helped them stay competitive.
Kirby Dach was the third star of the game with two goals.
The Devils are 9-4 and hold first place in the Metropolitan Division. They recently fell 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on the road. New Jersey trailed 3-0 going into the third period, scored once midway through the period, and allowed an empty-net goal to end the game.
Statistically, the teams were close, with the Devils outshooting the Ducks 33-29. New Jersey was 0-for-1 on the power play but perfect 2-for-2 on penalty kills. Both teams effectively blocked shots, though some key Devils players had negative plus/minus ratings.
Note: The above data was collected on Nov. 6, 2025, and may have changed since writing.
Summary: The Canadiens and Devils are leading their divisions and coming off tough losses, setting the stage for a competitive matchup focused on offensive momentum and defensive adjustments.
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