Dec 7, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; St. Louis Blues center Aleksanteri Kaskimaki (65) looks on during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre.
The St. Louis Blues held off the Montreal Canadiens for a thrilling 4-3 win on Sunday, led by standout performances from Brayden Schenn and Dylan Holloway. Schenn scored twice and added an assist, while Holloway contributed a goal and two assists. Pavel Buchnevich also found the net for the Blues.
St. Louis improved to 11-12-7, bouncing back after a 2-1 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 23 shots to secure the victory.
Canadiens’ Streak Ends
Montreal saw its two-game winning streak end despite strong offensive efforts. Cole Caufield extended his point streak to 11 games, matching a career-best, with a goal. Noah Dobson contributed a goal and an assist, and Lane Hutson also scored for the Canadiens.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 14 saves in his second start within 24 hours. Sam Montembeault, expected to start, was ruled out two hours before puck drop due to illness. Kaapo Kahkonen was recalled from the AHL to back up Dobes.
Early Goals Set the Tone
The Blues opened the scoring on a power play when Schenn converted a deflected shot from Cam Fowler at 8:57 of the first period. Hutson responded with a highlight-reel deke to even the score at 12:20. Caufield quickly put Montreal ahead with his 16th goal of the season, 57 seconds before the period ended.
Fast Start to Second Period
The Blues struck twice within 65 seconds early in the second period. Holloway finished a St. Louis rush through Montreal’s defense, and Buchnevich scored on a wide-open chance set up by Robert Thomas. These quick goals shifted momentum and gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead.
Schenn added his second of the night on a 2-on-1 feed from Holloway, extending the lead to 4-2 with just over nine minutes remaining. Montreal pulled one back with an extra attacker late in the game, but St. Louis held on for the win.
Key Takeaways
Blues: Capitalized on scoring opportunities when Holloway and Buchnevich were left alone in front. Effective finishes turned a tight-checking game into a win.
Canadiens: Controlled play and limited St. Louis chances but went 0-for-2 on the power play and registered only eight shots in the third period.
Highlight Moment
Lane Hutson, last year’s Calder Trophy winner, dazzled with a goal. He jumped in from the point, received a pass from Zack Bolduc, and executed a slick backhand around Binnington for his fifth goal of the season. Bolduc was acquired from St. Louis for Logan Mailloux in July.
Record-Breaking Stats
Holloway and Buchnevich scored the fastest two goals to start a period for the Blues since January 30, 2021, highlighting St. Louis’ offensive burst.
Closing Thoughts
St. Louis’ ability to capitalize on quick scoring chances proved decisive, while Montreal struggled on the power play. The Blues’ top players delivered under pressure, and goaltending from Binnington ensured the narrow win.
Both teams showed flashes of brilliance, but St. Louis’ efficiency in key moments made the difference in this tightly contested matchup. Fans saw an exciting blend of skill, speed, and clutch finishing.
