Montreal Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) as Avalanche’s Cale Makar (8) skates in during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) 
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) loses his stick as he is scored on by Colorado Avalanche’s Joel Kiviranta during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) 
Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Evans (71) beats Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) behind the net to score during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) 
Montreal Canadiens’ Alexandre Carrier (45) scores on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) 
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, right, is congratulated on a win over the Colorado Avalanche by fellow goaltender Samuel Montembeault (35) after NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
MONTREAL | 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.
Noah Dobson opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the game. Jake Evans and Kirby Dach scored in a 40-second span late in the second period. Dach had his first first goal and point since returning from a 31-game absence Jan. 20.
Alexandre Carrier and Juraj Slafkovsky scored in the third period, and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves to improved to 7-0-1 in his last eight starts.
Brock Nelson, Joel Kiviranta and Ross Colton scored for Colorado. Scott Wedgewood stopped 21 shots.
The Avalanche wore powder blue Quebec Nordiques jerseys in homage to the team’s former home of Quebec City.
Up next
Avalanche: At Detroit on Saturday.
Canadiens: At Buffalo on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl