Captain Nick Suzuki returns to the Montreal Canadiens lineup tonight at the Bell Centre to face the Utah Mammoth, ending a six-game absence caused by a left hand injury. The matchup gives Montreal an immediate chance to wash away Tuesday night's shocking historic collapse against the Winnipeg Jets. For hockey fans across Canada watching on TSN2 and RDS, this cross-conference test pits Montreal's resilient young core against one of the league's most lethal power plays.
What the Tournament or Event Is
This regular-season NHL matchup features the 9-3-3 Montreal Canadiens defending home ice against the 10-6-0 Utah Mammoth. Both clubs enter Thursday night holding strong playoff positioning in their respective conferences, but under very different spotlights.
Montreal is looking to re-establish stability following an unprecedented meltdown on Tuesday. In that game, Montreal became the first team in NHL history to lose after holding a four-goal lead with under three minutes remaining, eventually falling 5-4 in overtime to Winnipeg. Despite that sting, the Canadiens managed a point and went an impressive 5-0-1 while their captain was sidelined. Utah arrives looking to build momentum in the Central Division after splitting their last eight games, relying heavily on a league-leading expected-goal share of 60.6% and a hyper-efficient special teams unit.
The Main Contenders
The Utah Mammoth have firmly asserted themselves as a contender in the Central Division, sitting second with 20 points in 16 games alongside the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Colorado Avalanche. Utah draws 4.4 penalties per 60 minutes (fourth in the NHL) and turns those chances into goals at a remarkable 34.5% clip on the power play, ranking second overall. Winger Clayton Keller leads Utah with 21 points (17 assists) in 16 games, factoring in on 14 of their league-leading 19 power-play goals. Up front, Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz pace Utah's attack with 8 goals each.
Montreal counters with a dynamic attack led by Cole Caufield, who tops the team with 10 goals and shares the team scoring lead with rookie defenseman Lane Hutson at 14 points. Hutson's 11 assists have catalyzed Montreal's transition game. The Canadiens hold an overall 50.6% expected-goal share and score 3.33 goals per game, proving they can produce offense even through recent injuries to top-six forwards.
The Key Storylines to Watch
The headlining story for Montreal is the return of captain Nick Suzuki to the top line alongside Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Suzuki had skated in 546 consecutive games to start his NHL career before injuring his left hand on Oct. 20 against San Jose. Before the injury, Suzuki collected 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in nine games coming off a 101-point campaign last season.
It's tough coming into the rink with everyone gone and you've got to put your work in. I couldn't hold a stick in my left hand. You guys all see me skating left handed, all the guys thought that was pretty funny. You know it's different stuff like that. So yeah, I think it's good to be back around the group now.
Discipline will decide this game. Montreal is the second-most penalized team in the NHL, trailing only the Florida Panthers. That is a dangerous flaw against a Utah power play that has struck multiple times in eight different games this season. In Tuesday's loss, Montreal's penalty kill cracked in the final minute when Kyle Connor was left unmarked to tie the game. Montreal's penalty kill operates at 83.3%, but giving Utah repeated chances with the man advantage will test their structure.
Off the ice, Utah's aggressive ambition under general manager Bill Armstrong has surfaced in league reports. According to insider Pierre LeBrun on RDS's Aux 4 coins de la LNH, Utah pursued goaltender Connor Hellebuyck before his move to New Jersey and remains on Dylan Larkin's 10-team trade list, signaling a franchise determined to accelerate into true contention.
Schedule and Format
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST (5:00 PM PDT) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. Canadian viewers can watch the broadcast live on TSN2 in English and RDS in French, with live streaming on RDS and TSN+. In the Utah broadcast market, coverage airs on Utah16 and Mammoth+, with streaming in the United States on ESPN+.
Tonight's regular-season meeting is played under standard NHL regular-season rules: three 20-minute periods of five-on-five hockey, followed by a five-minute three-on-three sudden-death overtime and a three-round shootout if required to break a tie.
What to Expect
Montreal receives a significant boost with both Suzuki and forward Kirby Dach returning to the forward ranks. Dach missed the past two games due to illness and slots in on a line with Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook, replacing scratched forwards Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck. On defense, Montreal remains without Mike Matheson, relying on young pairings led by Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson. Jakub Dobes gets the start in net after rookie Jacob Fowler faced a grueling 47-shot barrage on Tuesday.
For Utah, head coach Andre Tourigny has alternated starts between Sebastian Cossa and Karel Vejmelka over the past four games, with Cossa coming off a 27-save effort in Toronto. The Mammoth will lean on top pairing Mikhail Sergachev and Mackenzie Weegar to slow down Montreal's top trio. If Montreal avoids trips to the penalty box and controls five-on-five possession, they have the scoring punch to dictate play. If Utah draws penalties, their second-ranked power play will tilt the ice quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Canadiens vs. Mammoth game tonight?
The game starts at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Where can I watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Utah Mammoth on TV in Canada?
In Canada, the game is broadcast regionally on TSN2 in English and RDS in French. Viewers can also stream the action through TSN+ and the RDS app.
Who is starting in goal for the Montreal Canadiens?
Jakub Dobes is scheduled to start in goal for Montreal, taking over after Jacob Fowler started on Tuesday against Winnipeg.
Why did Nick Suzuki miss games for Montreal?
Nick Suzuki missed six games after sustaining an upper-body left hand injury during an overtime loss against the San Jose Sharks on October 20.
What is the regular-season record between Montreal and Utah this year?
Montreal held a 2-0-0 head-to-head edge over Utah entering the 2025-26 series, with Montreal holding a 9-3-3 overall record and Utah sitting at 10-6-0 this season.
