The Montreal Canadiens are heading into their March 12, 2025, matchup against the Seattle Kraken with a 25-32-10 record, sitting well outside of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. While the Canadiens won’t be heading to the postseason, they have shown improvement throughout the year, especially from their young players, and are focused on development as they look toward the future. Despite their struggles, Montreal has the potential to play spoiler, and games like this provide them with an opportunity to disrupt teams like Seattle that are battling for playoff spots. For the Canadiens, this game is about continuing to build the foundation for the future and gaining valuable experience for their younger players. Montreal’s offensive attack has been led by young stars like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Suzuki has emerged as the team’s leader in points and has been a consistent playmaker all season long. Caufield, who is known for his goal-scoring ability, has been one of Montreal’s most dangerous players when he’s on the ice. The Canadiens will rely heavily on their top players to generate offense in this matchup against the Kraken. While Montreal’s offense can be explosive, they’ve struggled with consistency, and finding a way to put together a complete game will be crucial for success. Defensively, the Canadiens have been a work in progress. They have struggled to limit scoring chances and have given up too many goals throughout the season. This has placed a lot of pressure on their goaltending, with players like Jake Allen and Samuel Montembeault tasked with keeping the team in games. In this matchup against the Kraken, Montreal’s defense will need to tighten up and minimize turnovers, especially against a team like Seattle that has shown the ability to capitalize on mistakes.

The Canadiens’ defensive zone coverage will need to be disciplined, and they will need to do a better job of clearing the front of the net to give their goaltender a better chance of making saves. Special teams will also be an area where Montreal can make an impact. The Canadiens have been effective on the power play this season, with their top players like Suzuki and Caufield leading the charge. However, their penalty kill has been one of their biggest weaknesses, ranking among the worst in the league. Montreal’s ability to stay disciplined and avoid unnecessary penalties will be important, as giving Seattle too many power-play opportunities could prove costly. Conversely, Montreal will need to make the most of their own power-play chances to break the game open and generate momentum. In terms of goaltending, Montreal will need their netminder to step up and make key saves, especially in high-pressure situations. The Canadiens have shown they can score, but they must ensure that their goaltender has the support needed to keep the Kraken at bay. Montreal’s defense will need to limit Seattle’s scoring chances and help their goaltender maintain a strong performance throughout the game. Ultimately, the Canadiens will look to disrupt Seattle’s playoff push by playing a disciplined, competitive game. If they can improve their defensive play, capitalize on special teams, and get strong performances from their top players, Montreal will have a good chance of making this game competitive and possibly playing the role of spoiler against the Kraken. With development as their primary focus, Montreal will want to finish the season strong and continue to build for the future.