Bolduc’s two goals wasted in 6–4 loss: Canadiens morning report

The Canadiens’ home opener did not go according to plan. Montreal dropped a 6–4 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, a game where Zachary Bolduc’s two-goal effort wasn’t enough to offset Carolina’s control of play and heavy shot volume against goaltender Jakub Dobeš.

Slafkovský’s rough night as Demidov absence looms large

Beyond the final score, this loss underlined how tricky the early offensive puzzle has become. With Ivan Demidov sidelined for an estimated two to four weeks, the Canadiens are already searching for answers in their top six. Juraj Slafkovský, pushed into a bigger role without the dynamic Russian winger, endured a tough night against the Hurricanes before finally getting on the board with a late goal.

Demidov’s absence also opens a door for the next wave. Owen Beck is pushing hard to earn a full-time NHL spot, and he’s among the internal candidates to help stabilize the attack while the lineup is in flux. For now, the coaching staff appears intent on stress-testing the organization’s depth, hoping to find combinations that can hold up until Demidov returns.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, Aleksander Barkov’s injury in Florida slightly reshapes the early landscape, even if it’s still very early in the season.

Early standings picture and Predators up next

Through three games, the Canadiens sit 7th in the Atlantic Division with 3 points and a 1-1-1 record. It’s too early to panic, but dropped points at home against a contender like Carolina can come back into focus later in the year.

Attention now turns to Thursday night, when the Nashville Predators visit the Bell Centre for a 7 p.m. puck drop in Montreal. The matchup offers another chance for young forwards such as Bolduc, and potentially Beck, to stake a claim and show they can shoulder part of the offensive load created by Demidov’s injury. With the schedule set to tighten quickly, the Habs will need to start turning stretches of good play into points in the standings.