On the latter part of a back-to-back set, the Quebec Nordiques arrived in Montreal hoping to rebound following their loss in Ottawa. The Canadiens opened the game with a goal only 56 seconds in and never took their foot off the gas. Quebec had very little room to maneuver, getting hit anytime they got into the offensive zone. The Canadiens slaughtered the Nordiques a 7–3 loss, and now Quebec has allowed 30 goals in their last seven games. They are 2–4–1 in that seven-game span.

View from the Mountaintop

The Nordiques lacked any physical presence at all, except for Parker Kelly and Josh Manson. Quebec was getting hit all over the ice by the Canadiens, sometimes not even being allowed to get into the offensive zone. Kelly ended the game with six hits, and Manson ended the game with one hit. Manson had a notable hit in the second period on Kaiden Guhle as the youngster reached for the puck, exposing his upper-body. Quebec needs to play a more physical game if they want to be harder to play against. This is now the second Eastern Conference team in a row that the opponent has physically handled the Nordiques, and they have not bounced back.

Brock Nelson is the only player from the top-six that is scoring consistently at the moment. Nelson scored his 28th of the season. He has four goals in the last five games. Valeri Nichushkin is the only other top-six player to net a goal in the last two games. The top line of Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas did not register a point at all in Montreal. Cale Makar, who normally produces at a high level, has only three goals in his last 10 games.

It was just not Scott Wedgewood’s night. This was his first start after returning to the team from paternal leave. Wedgewood has been the rock of the goaltending corps for the Nordiques this season, notching 20 wins already. On Thursday, bounces were not going his way. Pucks bounced off the dasher and made for a wraparound goal by Kirby Dach. Nick Suzuki also scored a shorthanded goal after someone flipped the puck out of the zone for him to take off with. Wedgewood ended the night saving 21 of 28 shots and allowing five even-strength goals.

Up Next

The Nordiques will head to Detroit to wrap up the road trip against the Red Wings on Saturday at 11 a.m. MT. ABC will broadcast the game.