Jets goalie Eric Comrie stood on his head Wednesday night, stopping 29 of 31 shots he faced in regulation and overtime.
The Montreal Canadiens snapped their two-game skid on Wednesday with a tight 3-2 shootout win over the Winnipeg Jets. Cole Caufield delivered the decisive shootout goal after a high-octane overtime, sealing an emotional victory at the Bell Centre.
Canadiens Break Losing Streak in Style
Montreal entered the game needing a response after consecutive losses, including a 5-2 defeat to Ottawa one night earlier. They found that spark through Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen, who both scored in regulation.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes was sharp throughout, stopping 29 shots and turning aside all three shootout attempts to secure the much-needed win.
Jets Continue to Struggle on Road Trip
The Jets vs Canadiens matchup marked the end of Winnipeg’s five-game road trip, but the team couldn’t close it out on a high note. Winnipeg fell for the sixth time in seven games, despite strong efforts from Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, who each recorded a goal and an assist.
Goaltender Eric Comrie, returning to form after being pulled Monday against Buffalo, made 29 crucial saves and kept the game within reach with several highlight-reel stops.
How the Game Unfolded
Scheifele opened the scoring late in the first period. Connor chased down a loose puck and fed him perfectly in the slot, giving Winnipeg an early 1-0 advantage.
Montreal responded on the power play at 9:59 of the second period. Slafkovsky polished off a crisp tic-tac-toe sequence with Nick Suzuki and Caufield to tie the game.
Both teams exchanged goals soon after. Connor fired a wrist shot into the top corner following a chaotic sequence in front of Dobes. But the Canadiens answered quickly when rookie Ivan Demidov delivered a beautiful setup that allowed Kapanen to bury the equalizer at 14:03.
The tie held through a frantic third period and an intense overtime, setting up Caufield’s eventual shootout heroics.
Takeaways: Canadiens Find Their Spark
Ivan Demidov continued to impress with another standout performance. The 19-year-old collected his 20th point of the season and consistently generated offense with smooth puck control and vision.
For Montreal, the victory showed growth in composure, depth scoring, and special-teams execution—key areas as the season intensifies.
Takeaways: Jets Lean on Top Line Again
The Jets once again relied heavily on their top unit of Scheifele, Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi. The trio has now scored 11 of Winnipeg’s last 14 goals, highlighting both their importance and the team’s challenge in generating depth scoring.
Winnipeg did receive a boost with the return of defenseman Neal Pionk, who had missed four games due to a lower-body injury.
Key Moment of the Night
Before puck drop, the Canadiens honoured longtime defenseman Andrei Markov, celebrating his 16-season career in Montreal. The Bell Centre erupted in a two-minute standing ovation with thunderous “Olé, Olé” chants.
Markov, known for his quiet demeanor, addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech. The emotional ceremony clearly energized the building and added an extra layer of sentiment to Montreal’s win.
Key Stat to Watch
Winnipeg’s reliance on its top line remains striking. The Scheifele-Connor-Vilardi trio continues to produce at an elite pace but exposes the Jets’ lack of secondary scoring—an issue that again surfaced in this Jets vs Canadiens matchup.
Final Thought
The Canadiens’ shootout win not only snapped their skid but also showcased resilience, structure, and emerging young talent. For the Jets, another close loss emphasizes the urgent need for depth contributions as the season’s demands grow heavier.
