Keaton Middleton makes something clear to Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche teammates after fight vs Canadiens

The Colorado Avalanche walked away with a narrow 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens during their visit to Bell Centre. The game lived up to the hype as two of the hottest teams in the NHL collided on the ice. Brock Nelson secured the win with his game-winning goal in shootout. After the game enforcer Keaton Middleton delivered a clear message to Nathan MacKinnon and the rest of his teammates in the locker room.

The Avalanche ran into trouble during their stay in Montreal. Colorado squandered a 4-1 lead in the third period, leading to overtime and an ensuing shootou to decide the victor. Ultimately, the Avs escaped with two points, but it required an all-around effort.

Oddly enough both Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon were held scoreless against the Habs, but the rest of the team rose to the ocassion. Middleton didn’t etch his name in the scoresheet, but he did in the penalty list, after taking on Montreal enforcer Arber Xhekaj in a fight.

Middleton held his ground, but eventually, the talented Canadiens‘ fighter took him down. However, Middleton’s efforts pumped the bench and helped the team walk out victorious. After the game, the 27-year-old defenseman voiced a firm statement to MacKinnon and the rest of the squad.

Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche plays the New York Rangers in the third period at Ball Arena on January 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.

“I kind of got worked in the fight, but I will do that for every one of you guys,” Keaton Middleton admitted after the game, via the Avalanche’s social media account.

see also

Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky sets the record straight after Mikko Rantanen’s unexpected trade to Stars

Penalty fest

Montreal is often referred to as The City of Festivals, and it certainly seemed fitting during the second period of the Avs-Habs matchup, as a whistle festival unfolded, with penalties being called left and right across the ice. A total of ten penalties were drawn during the middle frame of the heated NHL encounter at the Bell Centre.

Right place, right time

Brock Nelson arrived in Mile High city after a trade from the New York Islanders during the NHL trade deadline day. Though he’s been in Denver for less than a month, the veteran has already immersed himself in the Avalanche’s culture and system. Through eight games with MacKinnon’s Avs, Nelson registers six points (3G, 3A).

The 33-year-old forward played a pivotal role in Colorado’s road victory over Montreal, scoring a goal in regulation, registering an assist, and netting the game-winning shootout goal. Most interestingly, is the fact that Nelson wasn’t supposed to take the third attempt during the shootout.

Brock Nelson #11 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates the game winning goal during the shootout against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on March 22, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout.

“I was getting ready to go with [Jonathan] Drouin and Drouin told me to go with Nelson, that his move would beat [Sam Montembeault],” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said, per NHL.com. “So the players often know a little bit more than us from watching each other after practices, before practice, from conversations. So ‘Drou’ actually made the call on that one.”