The Montreal Canadiens faced the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday in their first game without Nick Suzuki in the lineup since 2019.
With Mike Matheson’s return, Adam Engstrom watched from the press box as a healthy scratch. Head coach Martin St-Louis also adjusted the defensive pairings, placing Matheson with Lane Hutson on the top pair, Kaiden Guhle with Alexandre Carrier on the second, and Noah Dobson on the third.
All things considered, It was not an especially exciting game.
It featured hard work from depth players, a heavy forecheck, and plenty of shots from the point, exactly what the doctor ordered for a team missing its best player. The result was a morale-boosting 4-1 win for the Canadiens.
For the view from the other side of the rink, make sure to visit Chicago Hockey Now.
Let’s dive into the highlights!
When It Rains
As is often the case, an innocent play quickly turned into a scoring opportunity when Juraj Slafkovsky’s dump-in hit a linesman, and resulted in a turnover. To make matters worse, Connor Bedard was the Blackhawks player in question who was gifted the scoring chance off the rush, capitalizing on the situation via his excellent shot.
If the Canadiens did not have bad luck this season, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.
WHAT A SHOT 🎯 https://t.co/Fw5L8mIT0J
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 24, 2026
Crucial Response
Without Suzuki in the lineup, the Canadiens seemed hopeless, at least that was the case at the very start of the game. The Blackhawks were faster, stronger, and displayed much more intensity after puck drop, giving everyone the impression that the Habs were simply going to collapse like a bunch of broccoli.
The fourth line responded when the team needed it most, providing the type of energy necessary to reinvigorate a demoralized team. In true fourth-line fashion, it all started with a heavy forecheck via rookie Owen Beck, and concluded with a great passing play that included Kirby Dach and Jake Evans.
It was Evans’ first goal of the year, as well as Beck’s first point, an encouraging sign for players who must provide tertiary offence while the captain is on the mend.
Great pressure by the fourth line leads to Evan’s first point of the year. Excellent work by Beck, Dach, and Evans on the forecheck. https://t.co/EgN6N29x4d
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 24, 2026
Evans wasn’t done there. He would go on to score a very important goal, while the Canadiens were dealing with their nightly does of indiscipline.
Ideally, the team would stop taking six or seven penalties every night, but at the very least, it’s giving Evans plenty of shorthanded scoring chances. Speaking of which, Evans registered a point in every goal up to that point, the third time in his career in which he provided a three-point effort.
Despite Montreal’s solid play in the second frame, given their recent history of blown leads, the true test would come in the third period.
It’s Jake Evans night! He scores his second goal of the season while shorthanded, via a great shot. 2-1 #GoHabsGo https://t.co/R7kqFQD7vR
— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) October 24, 2026
Coffee Is For Closers
It must be said that Montreal managed the game perfectly, which runs contrary to their usual lack of focus in later parts of games this season.
They did not blow their two-goal lead, and while they didn’t exactly dominate their opponents, it was yet another important step in the right direction for a club that currently lacks confidence.
The veterans, in particular, did a great job shutting down the Blackhawks, with Evans, Dach, and Beck displaying excellent defensive awareness. Rookie netminder Jacob Fowler also deserves his fair share of praise, as the stoic netminder stopped 20 of the 21 shots sent his way.
Discipline is still an issue, and one that can sink the team whether Suzuki is present or not, but the penalty kill rose to the occasion on Friday, denying the Blackhawks high-danger scoring chances as they enjoyed five powerplays.
The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Sunday, facing the Winnipeg Jets in the Heritage Classic, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick.
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