Blues vs. Canadiens: Logan Mailloux’s Bell Centre return headlines St. Louis’ 4–3 road win

Bassyonni

ago 2 hours

Blues vs. Canadiens

The St. Louis Blues outlasted the Montreal Canadiens 4–3 on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in a back-and-forth game at Bell Centre that doubled as Logan Mailloux’s first appearance against Montreal since his offseason move to St. Louis. The one-goal finish featured special-teams swings, late net-front scrums, and a third-period push that the Blues managed just well enough to bank two points.

Logan Mailloux vs. Canadiens: the reunion and the reception

All eyes were on Mailloux from warmup onward. Slotted on the right side of St. Louis’s third pair, he took an early defensive-zone shift and settled in with a keep-it-simple mandate: short outlets, hard box-outs, and no high-risk pinches. The reception was predictably loud—boos on his first touch, a rumble each time he stepped over the boards—but the 21-year-old handled the noise, finished his checks, and moved pucks north. He also saw time on the penalty kill in the second period, a sign of growing trust from the St. Louis bench.

Game flow: special teams, timely saves, and one big counterpunch

First period: The Blues struck first on a power-play look, with a veteran bumper finding soft ice between the dots for a quick catch-and-release finish. Montreal answered at even strength off a high cycle that pulled St. Louis’s weak-side help out of the slot.
Second period: The middle frame tilted toward St. Louis when its top line extended shifts in the offensive zone and piled up ozone draws. Montreal weathered that stretch with a few timely blocks and a cross-bar, but the Blues’ forecheck finally cashed in late to restore the lead.
Third period: Montreal surged—Bell Centre was rocking after an early goal narrowed it to 3–2—but Jordan Binnington (21 saves) erased a doorstep chance and St. Louis immediately countered to make it 4–2. A late Habs tally trimmed it to one with the goalie pulled before the Blues closed the door through a frantic final 30 seconds.

Key swing: St. Louis’s ability to win the faceoff after every Montreal goal and calm the next shift. That “response shift” poise kept the game from flipping when momentum begged to.

Box-score standouts and subtle difference-makers

Pavel Buchnevich: on the sheet with a crucial goal and strong two-way minutes; his entries against pressure were the cleanest of the night for St. Louis.
Brayden Schenn: power-play strike and a pile of board wins that extended possessions.
Robert Thomas: playmaking touch returned—seam passes that forced Montreal’s PK to collapse.
Jordan Binnington: not overworked, but high-leverage stops—one glove save off a back-door look stands out.
Nick Suzuki / Cole Caufield: combined for a handful of clean looks, including a third-period rip that shaved iron; Montreal’s top duo nearly dragged it level.

Under the radar: Mailloux’s third-period clearance with traffic in front—simple play, big consequence with the net empty.

What the win means for St. Louis Blues

The Blues snapped into a grind-and-counter identity that travels: layered neutral-zone pressure, low turnovers at their own blue line, and opportunistic special teams. With injuries nibbling at wing depth, St. Louis leaned on structure rather than trading chances. Banking this road win against a fast, confident Montreal side steadies a choppy stretch and keeps St. Louis in touch with the middle of the Central pack.

Tactical notes for St. Louis going forward:

Exit variety: More middle-lane pops (bump passes to a cutting center) reduced glass-and-out habits.
PP tweak: Net-front seals created the inside lane for the bumper look—expect that to stay.
Third pair usage: Protected minutes for Mailloux at 5-on-5, with targeted PK shifts, hint at a measured build-up of responsibility.

What the loss means for the Montreal Canadiens

Montreal’s pace and forecheck repeatedly put St. Louis under duress, but two details told the tale: faceoffs after goals and weak-side slot coverage. When the Habs chased, they occasionally lost the third forward high, which opened seams for St. Louis’ counters. The effort was there; the situational details—late-game clears, first pass under pressure, and net-front boxing out—fell just short.

Bright spots for Montreal:

Goaltending kept them within a shot all night.
Transition looks were plentiful; finishing lagged on two odd-man rushes.
Blue-line activation produced one goal and multiple rebound scrums.

Logan Mailloux, big picture

For all the pregame chatter, Mailloux delivered the sort of night coaches love from a young defenseman in a charged building: reliable, physical, and uneventful in the best way. His return to Montreal becomes a footnote—useful experience banked, not a distraction—while St. Louis continues to integrate him into special-teams spots that suit his size and shot.

What’s next (schedule subject to change)

Blues: Back home mid-week for a Central tilt, then another East trip on the weekend (ET evening starts).
Canadiens: Quick turnaround with a divisional foe before a two-game road swing; puck drops clustered in the 7:00 p.m. ET window.

Blues vs. Canadiens delivered playoff-style tempo in early December. St. Louis earned it with special teams and late-game execution; Montreal showed it can chase a game and nearly steal it. The subplot—Logan Mailloux at Bell Centre—added heat, but the takeaway is bigger: the St. Louis Blues are learning to win tight ones on the road again.