During an NHL game in Montreal on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens attempted to score against Utah Hockey Club's goaltender, Karel Vejmelka. Dylan Guenther of Utah defended the play during the second period. The action was captured by Graham Hughes for The Canadian Press.
The Montreal Canadiens suffered a narrow 3-2 overtime loss against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday, but the game will be remembered for an unusual statistic — Montreal managed only 13 shots on goal, their lowest since a game against Philadelphia in December 2009. Unlike that victorious night, Tuesday's outcome ended in disappointment as Utah’s Mikhail Sergachev sealed the win in overtime.
Head coach Martin St. Louis was candid about the team’s performance. "It’s not enough, that’s for sure," he said of the low shot count. Despite their struggles, Montreal had several scoring opportunities blocked or missed, and St. Louis stressed the need for more consistent offensive pressure. “We’re not a high-volume shooting team, but we have to create more chances. It can change the game.”
Utah dominated the shot tally, out shooting Montreal in every period, including overtime. The first period saw the Canadiens penalized three times, disrupting their rhythm. Though they successfully killed all penalties, they failed to find an offensive groove. Utah’s Dylan Guenther opened the scoring in the second period, capitalizing on Montreal's defensive missteps.
Montreal’s Alex Newhook and Jayden Struble found the back of the net, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Utah. “It sucks losing,” Struble admitted. “But we’ve got another game tomorrow, and we’ll keep pushing.” Meanwhile, Sam Montembeault made 26 saves, holding off further damage.
For Utah, Jack McBain added to the scoreline, while goaltender Karel Vejmelka faced little challenge, stopping 11 shots. Sergachev noted his team's strategy of staying patient and denying Montreal offensive penetration. “We didn’t give them space to waste shots, and that worked in our favour.”
The Canadiens now embark on a challenging three-game road trip, facing Columbus, New York, and Boston. On the brighter side, defenceman Mike Matheson and forward Patrik Laine will join the team. Matheson, sidelined with a lower-body injury, is key to Montreal’s defence and power play, while Laine, acquired in August, is set to make his long-awaited season debut after recovering from a knee injury.
Hometown Hero’s Memorable Night
Tuesday’s game also marked a special moment for Utah rookie Maveric Lamoureux. The Laval native played his first NHL game at the Bell Centre, a dream come true for the 20-year-old. “Hearing the cheers during warm-ups gave me chills,” Lamoureux said. Despite an injury scare in the first period, he returned to finish the game. “No matter what, I wasn’t missing this experience,” he declared.
While the Canadiens aim to bounce back on the road, fans hope the team finds a way to rekindle their offensive spark.
