Canadiens’ Carrier celebrates rare offensive outburst in 6-3 win over Canucks

Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Nikita Tolopilo (60) as Canucks' Tom Willander (5) defends during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

MONTREAL — Alexandre Carrier is not best known for his offensive prowess on the ice.

In describing the Quebec City native’s game, you’d likely point to his defensive strengths. After all, Carrier has accumulated 100 blocked shots this season, placing him in the NHL’s top 10 in that category.

However, after the 29-year-old scored two goals in a span of 20 seconds in the second period of the Montreal Canadiens’ 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, all anybody wanted to talk about post-game was Carrier’s hot stick.

“It feels great,” admitted Carrier, who was named the game’s first star. “It was two big goals during the game as well to get the lead. Great passes by Suzy (Nick Suzuki) and Slaf (Juraj Slafkovsky). I don’t get to finish a lot, but I did tonight. It was a good feeling.”

Carrier’s pair of goals also propelled the blueliner past the century mark in points for his career.

It marked the first time Carrier had ever scored twice in a game at the NHL level. It has been a decade since he last accomplished the feat in his professional career.

“I scored two in the minors (AHL) during my first year pro with Milwaukee (in 2016),” said Carrier. “My second one was in overtime, so it was pretty cool. It doesn’t happen often.”

Carrier wasn’t the only defenceman providing an offensive spark for the Canadiens on Monday. Montreal also got a power-play goal from Noah Dobson and an even-strength tally from Mike Matheson 29 seconds into the third period, a goal that held up as the game winner.

“If we look at our last game, we played really well defensively, but offensively left a lot on the table,” said Dobson. “(Canadiens head coach) Marty (St. Louis) says all the time, ‘we don’t want to be a possession team, we want to be an attack team.’ Having a guy at the net front and delivering pucks there was a key tonight.”

The Canadiens defence has collectively accumulated 119 points on the season, second-most in the league behind only the Colorado Avalanche.

“In today’s game, you can’t just attack as a three-man unit,” said St. Louis. “Maybe on the rush, but once you get set up in the offensive zone, it takes guys who are able to do things on the ice. We have defenceman who are able to do that.”

While it would be unrealistic to expect Carrier and the rest of the Canadiens’ defence corps to score four goals every night, as they did against the Canucks, the defenceman promised to savour the moment, at least for a few hours.

“We’ll definitely joke around with the forwards,” Carrier said. “We had good passes from them, though, on the goals so we can’t tease them too much.”

St. Louis was also in the kidding mood after the game.

“I think everyone is happy for him,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. “After the first star, I joked with him ‘one good shift and you’re the first star?’

“Players like that who respect the game and work hard all the time are rewarded. It’s good for the team’s enthusiasm.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2026.

Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press