‘Fragile’ Canadiens let down by struggling power play in loss to Bruins

A talented unit of Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov and Nick Suzuki mustered just two shots with the two-man advantage as a mix of groans and jeers rained down from the crowd.

“That’s the (saying) in hockey,” Bruins forward David Pastrnak said. “You don’t score on five on three, you don’t deserve to win. Our guys did an amazing job killing it.”

The suddenly stumbling Canadiens, meanwhile, are searching for answers.

“It’s a problem when our penalty kill scores more than our power play,” Hutson said, referencing Jake Evans’ short-handed goal. “We just need better and we need it quick.”

Coming off lopsided losses to Los Angeles and Dallas by a combined score of 12-1, Montreal pushed back Saturday, outshooting Boston 28-23 and generating looks at an equalizer right to the final buzzer.

But the result was the Canadiens’ third straight home loss and their fifth defeat in six games — a turn in the wrong direction after winning nine of their first 12 to open the season.

“We’re a little bit fragile right now,” St. Louis said. “We want to flip it, and sometimes you have to calm down, calm your brain a little, because I think the effort is there.”

Suzuki noted the team’s “whole confidence right now is low.”

“And it’s affecting 5-on-5 and power play,” the captain added. “When your touches aren’t confident, you’re not feeling like every play is open to you. It’s tough sometimes, but we’ve got a lot of talent in here. We’ve got to work through that.”

The Canadiens’ power play was clicking at 30.8 per cent through 13 games, but they’ve since gone 0-for-17 during five straight scoreless outings.

“We’re gripping the stick a little bit, our reads are not clear, and when you want so much for it to work sometimes, you rush a little,” St. Louis said. “We are not calm, I would say. We’ll look at that.”

‘FELT LIKE 4 NATIONS’

In a flashback to February’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Montreal’s Jayden Struble punched above his weight class and fought Boston’s Nikita Zadorov off the opening faceoff as the Bell Centre erupted.

Four minutes later, Canadiens bruiser Arber Xhekaj dropped the gloves with Bruins forward Tanner Jeannot.

“It felt like 4 Nations there for a little bit,” Bruins head coach Marco Sturm said.

Struble said he and Xhekaj spoke Friday afternoon about giving the slumping Canadiens a jolt early. After the national anthems Saturday, the six-foot, 207-pound Struble asked the six-foot-seven, 255-pound Zadorov if he wanted to go.

“I just thought I was going to get everyone going,” Struble said. “See you go after a big guy, and Boston, too, Saturday night.”

Added Zadorov: “I mean, why not? Saturday night in Bell Centre, big rivalry. Used to be a big rivalry, so maybe it’s new again.”

McAVOY EXITS

Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy left midway through the second period after receiving a slap shot from Noah Dobson to the face.

The scary incident occurred at 11:01 when Dobson’s one-timer appeared to deflect off Boston forward Mark Kastelic before hitting McAvoy’s mouth area. McAvoy immediately covered his face and dropped to the ice, while a team doctor rushed from the bench to help him.

Coach Sturm said after the game that McAvoy was “doing OK” and undergoing testing.

“Try to get him home as soon as possible, hopefully tonight with us, but other than that, hopefully he will be OK,” said Sturm, who did not know if McAvoy was taken to the hospital.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2025.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

‘Fragile’ Canadiens let down by struggling power play in loss to Bruins

What's Trending