NHL Roundup: Canadiens Dominate Blackhawks, Avalanche Offense Erupts vs Lightning

Canadiens top Blackhawks

From a confidence-boosting win in Chicago to a statement performance at Ball Arena, Friday's NHL slate saw two contenders shake off slow starts and get back to winning ways.

Canadiens powers past Blackhawks, Avalanche outgun Lightning...

The Montreal Canadiens got back on track with a 4-1 win over Original Six rival Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center.

Jake Evans led the way for Montreal with two goals and an assist, while Jacob Fowler made 20 saves to help the Canadiens improve to 5-3-2. Connor Bedard scored the lone goal for Chicago.

In Denver, the Colorado Avalanche offense came alive in a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists and six different Avalanche players found the net as Colorado overcame a 34-24 shots deficit to move to 6-4-1.

Canadiens Find Their Form In Chicago Ahead Of Heritage Classic

The Montreal Canadiens have had a slow start to 2026/27 at 4-3-2, with high expectations seeming to weigh on the young group in a stacked Atlantic Division. But on Friday, with the Heritage Classic against Winnipeg just two days away, they finally clicked. Two goals from Jake Evans paced Montreal to a 3-1 advantage after 40 minutes against an improving Chicago side.

For the Chicago Blackhawks, now 3-6-0, the night was defined by missed chances. Captain Connor Bedard opened with a highlight-reel goal early, but that was it. Jacob Fowler shut the door after that, turning aside the final 20 shots he faced and killing any Blackhawks push.

Mike Matheson added the insurance marker in the third to lock up the 4-1 win, a timely confidence boost for Montreal heading into a marquee weekend on the NHL calendar.

Avalanche Offense Explodes to Overpower Lightning

Colorado got back to looking like a Stanley Cup contender on Friday. Despite an inconsistent 6-4-1 start that has fallen short of Western Conference favorite expectations, the Avalanche offense erupted at Ball Arena. Nazem Kadri and Devon Toews both scored in the opening six minutes, sparking a balanced attack that saw Colorado net two goals in every period with six different goal scorers.

It was an uncharacteristic night for Tampa Bay, now 7-3-0, and especially for Andrei Vasilevskiy, who was pulled after allowing five goals on just 23 shots. Mackenzie Blackwood was sharp at the other end with 31 saves on 34 shots for Colorado. Jake Guentzel kept the Lightning in it with two goals to make it 4-2 late in the second, but Tampa Bay couldn't complete the comeback in the third and dropped a 6-3 decision.