Canadiens crush struggling Canucks 6-3 with three-goal outburst in third period

By Canadian Press on January 12, 2026.

MONTREAL — Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovsky scored goals 67 seconds apart to start the third period, propelling the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-3 win over the last-place Vancouver Canucks Monday night at Bell Centre.

Alexandre Carrier scored twice in a 20-second span in the second period for Montreal (26-14-6), which rebounded from a 4-0 home-ice loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Noah Dobson and Oliver Kapanen also found the back of the net for the Canadiens in the win, the team’s fourth straight against the Canucks.

Jakub Dobes, making his first start since Jan. 1, stopped 20 shots for Montreal. Dobes defeated Vancouver for the second time in as many outings this season.

Elias Pettersson, Evander Kane and Max Sasson accounted for the Canucks offence on the night.

Vancouver (16-24-5) has now dropped the first four games (0-4) of its season-long six-game Eastern Conference road trip. Overall, the Canucks have now lost seven straight and nine of their last 10 contests.

Nikita Tolopilo made 35 saves in his first appearance in goal for Vancouver since Dec. 8.

The Belarusian goaltender was recalled Sunday under emergency conditions from the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, B.C.

The move was made necessary after starter Thatcher Demko was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury he suffered in his team’s 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. Demko has returned to Vancouver to be further evaluated by the Canucks’ medical staff.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Vancouver scored the opening goal of the game for the first time in six games. It also marked the Canucks’ first lead in a game since Dec. 30.

Canadiens: Montreal surrendered at least three goals for the second straight game. The Canadiens had not given up as many in back-to-back games since Dec. 7-9.

KEY MOMENT

Mere moments after tying the game at 2-2, Carrier scored again on his next shift. The Quebec City native joined the rush, accepting a feed from Slafkovsky before depositing the puck past Tolopilo.

KEY STAT

Carrier’s first of two goals on the night allowed the defenceman to reach the 100-point plateau for his NHL career. It also was the first career multi-goal game for the 29-year-old blueliner.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Canadiens: Visit the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2026.

Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press