Opinion
3 min read

Can Canadiens Triumph Over Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena?

As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to face off against the Detroit Red Wings, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from a recent defeat. The Canadiens' performance on March 31st against the Carolina Hurricanes was less than stellar, as they failed to score in a 3-0 loss. Despite putting up 26 shots and blocking an impressive 21 attempts by the Hurricanes, their efforts did not translate into goals.


Dec 2, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings center Joe Veleno (90) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with his teammates at the bench during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

The powerplay opportunities were there for Montreal; however, they could not capitalize on any of their three chances. This is an area that has been a concern throughout the season and one that needs immediate attention if they hope to improve their standings. On the other hand, goaltending was solid with a save percentage of 100 percent despite two goals slipping through during play and one empty-netter sealing their fate.


Comparatively, in their game on March 28th against the Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal showed what they're capable of when things click into place. They secured a convincing win with four goals scored on just 17 shots—a shooting percentage that would intimidate any opponent. Their powerplay unit found success once out of two opportunities and defensively blocked an impressive number of shots while maintaining discipline with only seven penalties.


Dec 2, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings players gather to celebrate the overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at these past performances provides insight into what it will take for Montreal to succeed in Detroit: capitalize on powerplay opportunities and maintain defensive strength while increasing shot accuracy.


The Red Wings will be no easy opponent; they've shown resilience throughout this season and have players who can turn a game around quickly if given space. The Canadiens must keep tight control over Detroit's key playmakers and exploit any weaknesses found in previous matchups.


Dec 2, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman (96) celebrates his game winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens in overtime at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

With all eyes set on April 15th at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, fans are hopeful that Montreal can harness the same energy from their victory over Philadelphia rather than repeat the shortcomings displayed against Carolina. It's crucial for them to enter this game focused and ready to execute both offensively and defensively.


Fans looking forward to catching this matchup can tune into ESPN+ online or watch it live on BSDETX television network at 7:00 PM EDT.

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