MONTREAL (AP) — Nick Suzuki scored power-play and short-handed goals and added an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the struggling Colorado Avalanche 7-3 on Thursday night. The NHL-leading Avalanche have lost six of eight to fall to 35-8-9.

The Colorado Avalanche struggled in all phases Thursday night and got blown out, 7-3, by the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.

Nick Suzuki scored a power-play and short-handed goal to go along with an assist as the Montreal Canadiens earned a 7-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night at the Bell Centre.

The colors on the ice were beautiful. The on-ice play from the Avalanche was far from it. Colorado gave up four unanswered goals after both teams traded early markers on their way to a 7-3 loss at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens in the Bell Center.

This is the NHL’s best team?: One night after Ottawa scored five on Colorado, the Canadiens put a seven-spot on the Avalanche, tying their season-high in goals. Colorado still has an NHL-best record of 35-8-9, but lost a second-consecutive game for the fourth time this season, and all of those mini slumps have come in January.

Colorado was sloppy from the opening faceoff of the third period, and it quickly came back to bite them. Repeated puck mismanagement handed the Flyers momentum, and Philadelphia made the Avalanche pay. Owen Tippett scored his second of the night, followed by a Matvei Michkov tally, giving the Flyers a 5–3 cushion.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Colorado Avalanche NHL game from January 23, 2026 on ESPN.