Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens: Game Review October 9, 2025
Final Score: Montreal Canadiens 5, Detroit Red Wings 1
The Montreal Canadiens dominated the Detroit Red Wings with a commanding 5-1 victory at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night, marking their first win of the 2025-26 NHL season. After falling behind early, the Canadiens responded with an impressive five unanswered goals to silence the home crowd in Detroit’s home opener.
Game Flow and Key Moments
The Red Wings started strong when captain Dylan Larkin opened the scoring at 3:50 of the first period, converting on a power play opportunity with assists from Patrick Kane and Moritz Seider. The goal energized the home crowd, but their celebration would be short-lived.
Montreal quickly countered when Zachary Bolduc split the Detroit defense and scored at 10:14 of the first period, assisted by Brendan Gallagher and Mike Matheson. This equalizer marked the beginning of Montreal’s offensive onslaught.
The Canadiens continued their momentum with Oliver Kapanen finding the back of the net just over two minutes later (12:43) off feeds from Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov. As the first period wound down, Mike Matheson delivered a crucial blow with just seven seconds remaining, giving Montreal a 3-1 lead heading into intermission.
Standout Performances
Jakub Dobes was stellar between the pipes for Montreal, stopping 30 Detroit shots in his first start of the season. His steady presence allowed the Canadiens to build on their lead without worry.
Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki were playmaking catalysts, each recording two assists. Gallagher’s work with Bolduc proved particularly effective, with the veteran forward setting up the younger player for success.
Zachary Bolduc continued his hot start to the season, scoring in his second consecutive game. His ability to split defenders and finish showcased why he’s becoming an important piece for the Canadiens.
Second Period Dominance
Montreal continued their assault in the second period. Alexandre Carrier extended the lead to 4-1 at 5:19 with assists from Arber Xhekaj and Gallagher. Later in the period, Juraj Slafkovsky capitalized on a power play opportunity at 17:12, with Cole Caufield and Suzuki providing the assists, pushing the score to 5-1.
Post-Game Reactions
In the post-game press conference, Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis praised his team’s resilience after playing back-to-back games to start the season. “This was a complete team effort tonight,” he noted.
Nick Suzuki emphasized the collaborative nature of the win: “Everyone contributed tonight, and that’s what we need to be successful. Getting our first win of the season feels great, especially on the road.”
Juraj Slafkovsky expressed optimism about building on this performance: “We’re starting to click as a team. This win gives us confidence to build on for the rest of our road trip.”
Looking Ahead
With this convincing victory, the Canadiens improve their record to 1-1-0 on the young season. They’ll continue their season-opening road trip with a visit to the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Saturday.
For the Red Wings, this disappointing performance at Little Caesars Arena raises questions about defensive coverage and special teams play that they’ll need to address before their next game.
The contrast between Detroit’s early promise and Montreal’s overwhelming response made this a compelling early-season matchup, with the Canadiens demonstrating they have the firepower and defensive stability to compete in the Atlantic Division this season.
Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine
