Exciting Finish: Canadiens Edge Wild 4-3
In a riveting showdown, the Montreal Canadiens captured a thrilling victory over the Minnesota Wild with a final score of 4-3, thanks to Cole Caufield's dramatic goal with just 15 seconds left in the third period. This game took place at the Bell Centre, showcasing an intense battle on the ice.
Caufield netted the decisive goal, marking Montreal’s final lead after receiving an impressive one-timer pass from Nick Suzuki. Positioned at the top of the right face-off circle, he sent the puck soaring past Jesper Wallstedt’s glove, sealing the win at 19:45 of the third period. "We just found a way to keep the puck alive, and luckily it went in," Caufield commented post-game. "That’s why you play the full 60 [minutes] or 65, whatever it is. They all count the same, but it feels good to get two points tonight."
In addition to Caufield's stellar performance, Lane Hutson contributed significantly with a goal and an assist. Phillip Danault and Alexandre Carrier also lit the lamp, while Ivan Demidov provided two assists. Jakub Dobes held strong in goal, making 16 saves for Montreal (28-15-7), which has now secured back-to-back wins.
Hutson shared his thoughts on the team's effort, stating, "All our guys played the right way. We played a deep game, won a lot of puck battles and it paid off. I think we played a really good game all around."
Minnesota, boasting a record of 28-14-9, saw Vladimir Tarasenko shine with two power-play goals, alongside Brock Faber, who also scored. Despite their recent success, including a solid 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs just a day prior, the loss was disappointing. Faber expressed his frustration, saying, "A point would have been huge. Back-to-backs like that, obviously getting it into overtime would have given us a chance to get two points. That last shift was tough; Caufield is the most dangerous player on the ice, and I’ve got to close harder there. He scores big goals. It would have been great to give ourselves a chance to earn the two points in overtime."
Wallstedt, who faced a total of 29 shots, kept the Wild competitive throughout the match. "'Wally' played great, kept us in it all night," Faber noted. "They’ve got a fast hockey team; every single guy can skate and move. It’s hard to win here in this building. We didn’t have our best tonight, but I thought we pushed back well at times and gave ourselves a chance."
The scoring frenzy began with Tarasenko putting Minnesota ahead, scoring a power-play goal at 10:44 of the first period after receiving a pass from Mats Zuccarello. He unleashed a shot that flew past Dobes on the stick side from the top of the right face-off circle.
Danault responded for Montreal, leveling the score at 1-1 at 15:22 by redirecting a rebound from Kaiden Guhle’s shot through Wallstedt’s pads. This marked Danault’s first goal in 52 games, highlighting a long-awaited return to scoring since being acquired from Los Angeles on December 19, 2025. His previous goal came back on March 30, 2025, while still with the Kings.
Carrier then tipped the puck home at 19:08, giving the Canadiens a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission, as he deftly redirected Mike Matheson’s shot.
Faber brought Minnesota back into contention at 10:16 of the second period, equalizing again at 2-2 by deflecting a shot from Vinnie Hinostroza past Dobes.
Hutson quickly put the Canadiens back in front at 12:35, scoring on a one-timer after receiving a precise pass from Demidov. "I called for it once, and I knew he had seen me," Hutson explained. "He’s so good at reading the play and putting the puck in a good spot for me, so it was a really nice pass."
As the third period unfolded, Minnesota was presented with a 5-on-3 advantage for 44 seconds after Matheson was penalized for tripping. During this crucial moment, Tarasenko capitalized, netting his second power-play goal at 12:40, tying the game at 3-3 just moments after Hutson’s penalty had expired.
"I think we played the game a little bit more north-south," Wild coach John Hynes remarked. "Our puck decisions were a lot better, and we forced them to defend more. It was our job to get ourselves back into the game, and I really liked the fact that we dug in and did that."
Key Takeaways:
- Tarasenko made history as the fourth player in Wild franchise history to score multiple goals on consecutive days. Kirill Kaprizov has accomplished this feat twice previously.
- Caufield’s goal marks his 21st game-winning goal in the third period or overtime since his debut during the 2020-21 season, placing him among elite company. Only a few players, such as Leon Draisaitl and Sidney Crosby, have recorded more in that span.
- Canadiens forward Kirby Dach made his return to the ice, logging 16:46 minutes and firing two shots on goal, following his recovery from a foot injury suffered in mid-November.
