The Bell Centre roared back to life as the Montreal Canadiens opened their 2025–26 season with a dramatic 5–4 overtime victory against the Seattle Kraken. But it wasn’t just the scoreline that had fans talking — it was the chaos, the comebacks, and the statement of intent.
From the first puck drop, the Canadiens made it clear they weren’t here to ease into the season. Alex Newhook struck early, assisted by Ivan Demidov and Alexandre Carrier, setting the tone for a night of relentless momentum shifts.
Cole Caufield added to the tally in the second period, but Seattle responded with two quick goals from Jani Nyman and Jaden Schwartz, flipping the energy in the arena.
The third period was pure drama. Ivan Demidov, already making waves in his debut, scored again with help from Patrik Laine and Brendan Gallagher. But the Kraken weren’t done. Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak stunned the crowd with back-to-back goals, putting Seattle ahead. Then, with the clock ticking down, Kirby Dach delivered a clutch equalizer, assisted by Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson.
Overtime was tense, but Montreal found the breakthrough, sealing the win and sending a message to the league: this team is built for chaos — and knows how to win in it.
The Bell Centre crowd was deafening, with cheers reportedly overpowering the sound system. The walkout songs, the emotional tributes, and the comeback energy turned the opener into a spectacle.
Final Score: Canadiens 5 – Kraken 4 (OT) Record: 1–0–0 Next game: Momentum is theirs to lose.