MONTREAL — It’s not always ending in a victory, but the Montreal Canadiens are proving they can’t be counted out no matter the score.
The Canadiens rallied back in epic fashion Saturday, erasing a 4-1 third-period deficit to force overtime against the high-flying Colorado Avalanche.
Montreal ultimately fell 5-4 in a shootout, but picked up a crucial point that looked well out of reach in its playoff chase.
"We always believe, we always want to play hard,” winger Juraj Slafkovsky said. “We don't want to give anyone anything for free, and that's what we showed today."
Joshua Roy and Slafkovsky — with his second of the game — scored 30 seconds apart nine minutes into the third to cut Colorado’s lead to 4-3. Then Christian Dvorak equalized at 13:32, sending the Bell Centre into a frenzy.
The onslaught bumped Montreal’s third-period goal total to 10 in three games.
The Canadiens (33-27-9) trailed 2-1 before scoring five times in a 6-3 win Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. On Thursday, Montreal rallied from 3-1 down to force overtime in an eventual loss to the New York Islanders.
It happened again Saturday.
“I think a lot of people thought the game was over, but I reminded the guys (of the comebacks) between the second and third,” head coach Martin St. Louis said. “It’s a big point, I’m proud of the group for their fight."
Montreal remained in the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position with 75 points, one ahead of the outside-looking-in New York Rangers and two in front of the New York Islanders in a tight playoff race.
The extra point looked unlikely even in the early stages Saturday.
Montreal couldn’t make or catch a pass, coming out flat against a Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar-led Avalanche team bolstered by trade deadline additions.
Colorado (43-25-3) proceeded to skate circles around Montreal, piling up nine shots in the opening six minutes before scoring on their 10th and 11th attempts to take a 2-0 lead.
"They're a good team, deep team,” Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “We just started slow, gave them a little bit too much respect and room out there, and when we started to play our game we kind of really took over."
The Canadiens showed fight in the second, outshooting the Avalanche 10-7 in a period where six-foot-four Arber Xhekaj landed several punches in a heavyweight bout with six-foot-six Keaton Middleton.
The Avalanche took a three-goal lead in the third period. Then everything turned on its head.
Dvorak received a pass from Brendan Gallagher, danced around Nelson and tucked a backhand over Blackwood’s left shoulder for a beautiful goal to tie the game.
Backed by a raucous crowd and filled with momentum, the Canadiens almost look the lead as Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield both hit posts.
Montreal even killed a Slafkovsky holding penalty against Colorado’s star-studded power play in overtime to give itself a chance.
"It's easy to roll over. (But) that's just not what we do on our team,” Suzuki said. “Guys just kept battling, getting chances, really took over the game. Could have probably got a couple more in the third, too. It's a big point. Just got to go on the road and get winning."
Montreal takes off on a crucial four-game road trip with stops in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Carolina and Florida.
The Canadiens will only have three road games remaining after they return home to host the Panthers on April 1.
"It's a big boost of confidence. Comeback like this, it's big for us,” Slafkovsky said. “It shows our character and everything, how we want to fight every night.
“It's unlucky that we're not getting the second point, but I think we should keep our heads up and be in a good mood for our next game.”
STICKING WITH MONTY
St. Louis gave Sam Montembeault a fourth consecutive start — instead of giving the nod to backup Jakub Dobes — despite back-to-back subpar performances from Montreal’s No. 1 goalie.
Montembeault allowed seven goals on 50 shots in his previous two outings, leading to questions about the netminder’s fatigue amid a career-high workload this season. St. Louis, however, stuck with his guy.
“We’re not here without Montembeault,” St. Louis said Saturday morning. “It’s not a time of year to send messages, our group has a lot of confidence, they know I believe in them, and I believe in Monty. We’re not here without him.”
Montembeault has a .900 save percentage and 2.88 goals-against average in 52 games this season. He let in a bad goal to Brock Nelson on Saturday, but made 33 saves and came up big in overtime.
The netminder revealed after the game that St. Louis texted him Friday during an off-day to tell him he would start. St. Louis also told him to keep his head high and keep working.
“That was really appreciated,” Montembeault said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2025.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press