Canadiens vs Mammoth tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre: TV channel, Suzuki's possible return, goalies, lineups and keys after the Jets collapse.
Turn the page, and fast. Two days after Tuesday's collapse against the Jets, the Canadiens (9-3-3) host the Utah Mammoth (10-6-0) tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bell Centre. The big question: will captain Nick Suzuki finally return? Here is the time, the TV channel, the goalies, the lineups and everything to know before puck drop.
- When: tonight, Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre.
- TV: RDS and RDS.ca in French (pregame at 6:15 p.m.), TSN2 in English.
- Nick Suzuki has missed six games and could return tonight. The answer should come after the 10:30 a.m. morning skate.
- In goal: Jacob Fowler or Jakub Dobeš, to be confirmed.
- The danger: Utah's power play, second in the NHL at 36.4%.
What time is the Canadiens vs Mammoth game, and on what channel?
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Bell Centre in Montreal. In Quebec, the game airs in French on RDS and RDS.ca, with a pregame show starting at 6:15 p.m. In English, it airs on TSN2 in the Canadiens region. In the United States, it streams on ESPN+, and in Utah on Mammoth+ and Utah16.
Is Nick Suzuki playing tonight?
It is the question of the day. The captain has missed the last six games after blocking a shot with his hand on October 20 against San Jose. According to RDS, he keeps picking up the pace in practice, and a return tonight is not ruled out. The decision is expected after the Canadiens' morning skate at 10:30 a.m. Kirby Dach, out with an illness on Tuesday, is also worth watching. We will update this article as soon as it is confirmed.
Without Suzuki, Montreal went 5-0-1. Before his injury, the reigning Selke Trophy winner had 5 goals and 12 points in 9 games. Learn more: who is Nick Suzuki.
Who is in goal?
Montreal has not named its starter yet. Jacob Fowler, the NHL's rookie of the month for October, had little to blame himself for on Tuesday, according to RDS. Jakub Dobeš is the other option. For Utah, Sebastian Cossa made 27 saves in a 3-2 win in Toronto on Tuesday, so Karel Vejmelka is expected to start tonight, according to Last Word on Hockey. Our profile: who is Jacob Fowler.
The Canadiens' projected lineup tonight
Projected lines according to RDS, before the morning skate. If Suzuki returns, Alex Newhook would likely move off the top line.
Looking for the full list of Canadiens players for 2026-27? It is all in our complete Canadiens guide.
The Mammoth's projected lineup
Canadiens vs Mammoth: the numbers
| Canadiens | Mammoth | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 9-3-3 | 10-6-0 |
| Goals per game | 3.33 (13th) | 3.56 (8th) |
| Goals against per game | 3.13 (15th) | 3.38 (23rd) |
| Power play | 13.0% (30th) | 36.4% (2nd) |
| Penalty kill | 81.7% (11th) | 70.0% (26th) |
Who are the Utah Mammoth?
Coached by Quebec's own André Tourigny, the Mammoth may be the NHL's biggest early surprise. With 20 points, Utah sits second in a stacked Central Division, behind Minnesota and ahead of Dallas and Colorado. The young team is in the middle of a six-game road trip and arrives in Montreal after a 3-2 win in Toronto on Tuesday.
The engine is the power play, led by Clayton Keller: 14 power play points (2 goals, 12 assists), second in the league behind Connor McDavid. Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz each have 8 goals.
Three keys to the game
- Stay out of the box. Utah converts more than a third of its power plays. Every penalty is a real danger tonight.
- Finally wake up the power play. Montreal is 30th at 13.0%, but Utah's penalty kill is 26th (70.0%). This is the night.
- Answer Tuesday. After a loss RDS called historic, the start of the game will say a lot about this locker room.
Players to watch
The last meetings
Montreal won both games against Utah in 2025-26, including a 4-3 win in Utah in which Nick Suzuki had three points and became the 38th player in team history to reach 400 career points, according to RDS.
More on the Habs: Canadiens vs Jets, our Canadiens 5, Penguins 4 recap, our Canadiens 5, Stars 2 recap, our complete 2026-27 Canadiens guide and who is Cole Caufield.
Canadiens vs Mammoth: your questions
What time is the Canadiens vs Mammoth game?+
Tonight, Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
What channel is the Canadiens game on tonight?+
RDS and RDS.ca in French, TSN2 in English. In the United States, it streams on ESPN+.
Is Nick Suzuki playing against the Mammoth?+
His status will be known after the morning skate. He has missed six straight games and a return tonight is possible.
Who coaches the Utah Mammoth?+
André Tourigny, a Quebec native.
Who won the last Canadiens vs Mammoth games?+
The Canadiens won both meetings in 2025-26, including a 4-3 win in Utah.
When is the Canadiens' next game?+
Saturday, November 7, in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.
A captain who might be back, a Quebec coach on the other bench and a locker room with something to prove: tonight, the Bell Centre is waiting for an answer.
Sources: RDS, Last Word on Hockey, OG, Bleacher Nation, RG.
