Carolina spoils Montreal's home opener 6-4. Bolduc shines, the power play sputters, and why Jacob Fowler should start tonight against the Predators.
The Bell Centre was ready to party. The players had been introduced, the crowd was on its feet, and the Canadiens led 3-2 after twenty minutes. Then Carolina did what it does best: smother Montreal, period after period, all the way to a 6-4 win that looked a lot like last spring's Eastern Conference Final. Here's what to take away from the October 6 home opener, and why tonight's game against Nashville already matters more than it seems.
- Carolina 6, Montreal 4, at the Bell Centre, Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
- Zachary Bolduc scored twice and already has three goals in three games.
- Montreal was outshot 34 to 20 and committed 19 giveaways.
- Samuel Montembeault got hurt at practice, and Jacob Fowler was recalled from Laval.
- Next game: Thursday, October 8, 7 p.m., against the Nashville Predators.
The game, goal by goal
If you missed it, here's how the game turned. Red for Carolina goals, purple for Montreal.
Source: official game summary on NHL.com.
What worked
Bolduc
Hutson
SuzukiZachary Bolduc is the feel-good story of the young season. Two goals on Tuesday, one on the power play, and already three in three games. The 23-year-old from Trois-Rivières signed a four-year deal before camp, and so far he's paying it off fast. Lane Hutson played more than 29 minutes and drove almost all of the offence from the blue line. And captain Nick Suzuki scored and set up Slafkovský's goal.
What didn't work
Slafkovský
Dobson
F. Xhekaj
DobešEverything else. Montreal had only 10 shots through 40 minutes, according to TSN. The 19 giveaways were paid in full: Carolina's first goal came off a Slafkovský turnover, the winner off a Dobson mistake under pressure. And Montreal wasted two 5-on-3 power plays, including one where Chris Kreider's stick broke in front of an open net.
Florian Xhekaj, dressed to replace Ivan Demidov (out two to four weeks), hit hard on his first shift but finished minus-3 in under ten minutes. As for Jakub Dobeš, he made 28 saves but sits at 1-1-1 with a 4.43 GAA and an .857 save percentage after three starts, according to RDS.
What they said
Full post-game interviews are on the Canadiens' site:
Where we stand
Canadiens vs Predators tonight: what you need to know
| When | Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7 p.m. |
| Where | Bell Centre, Montreal |
| On TV | TSN2 (English), RDS (French) |
| Records | Canadiens 1-1-1, Predators 1-1-1 |
| Nashville players to watch | Steven Stamkos (3 goals, 4 points), Nils Höglander (3 goals), Filip Forsberg (3 assists) |
| Special teams | Power play: MTL 10%, NSH 37.5%. Penalty kill: 75% for both |
| In goal | To be confirmed Thursday morning: Fowler or Dobeš |
The Predators come to Montreal with the same record: a loss to Minnesota, a win over Dallas and a blown 3-0 lead in an overtime loss to Toronto. Last season, Montreal beat them twice, and Nashville scored only three goals in two games against the Canadiens. Data: Habs Eyes on the Prize.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of the Canadiens vs Hurricanes game on October 6, 2026?+
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Canadiens 6-4 at the Bell Centre in Montreal's home opener.
Who scored for the Canadiens against Carolina?+
Zachary Bolduc (2), Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovský scored for Montreal. Jakub Dobeš made 28 saves.
Why was Jacob Fowler recalled?+
Samuel Montembeault injured his right leg at practice on October 7. Montreal recalled Jacob Fowler from the Laval Rocket the same day.
When do the Canadiens play the Predators?+
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 7 p.m., at the Bell Centre. The game airs on TSN2 in English and RDS in French.
Who is injured on the Canadiens?+
Ivan Demidov is out two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. Samuel Montembeault is being evaluated after his practice injury, and Oliver Kapanen is day to day.
To get to know every player on the 2026-27 roster, check out our complete 2026-27 Canadiens guide. And on the basketball side, our creators were courtside for the first NBA game ever played in Quebec City. See you after Nashville.
