This Tuesday, the Bell Centre won’t just be a hockey arena — it will be a stage for emotion, memory, and expectation. The Montreal Canadiens host the Seattle Kraken in their 2025-26 home opener, and they’re doing it with a powerful mix of celebration and responsibility.
Starting at 5:00 p.m., the exterior of the Bell Centre will transform into a party zone with live art, 360 video booths, and live broadcasts. But inside, the tone shifts: a tribute to legendary goaltender Ken Dryden, recently passed, will set the emotional tone before puck drop.
At 6:50 p.m., players will be introduced with personalized songs they selected themselves — a gesture meant to connect with fans before the action begins. Behind the music and applause, however, lies pressure: Montreal enters with a 2-1-0 record and the need to prove this season will be different.
Zachary Bolduc, the young forward who’s scored in all three opening games, has become the local hope. No Canadiens player has started like this since Yanic Perreault in 2001. On the other side is Jared McCann, Seattle’s most dangerous weapon, arriving with two wins and just two goals allowed.
Statistically, the Habs edge out in goals per game (3.33 vs 2.50), but the Kraken have shown defensive strength and a revamped roster after Bjorkstrand’s departure. New head coach Lane Lambert has brought structure and ambition to a team that finished second-to-last in their division last year.
With four straight home games ahead, Montreal can’t afford a misstep. The fans will be there — torn between nostalgia for Dryden and the hope that this team finally takes the leap it’s been promising for years.