In a much-needed reversal of fortune, the Montreal Canadiens decisively ended their five-game losing streak with a commanding 5-2 victory over the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada. The Saturday night clash at a buzzing Bell Centre was highlighted by a calm and collected performance from goaltender Jakub Dobes and a wildly energetic NHL debut from Florian Xhekaj.
A Calming Presence in the Crease
Amid a volatile period for the Canadiens' goaltending, Jakub Dobes emerged as a steadying force, turning aside 24 shots to backstop the team to a critical two points. His performance was a welcome sight for a club that had lost seven of its previous eight contests. The win provides a significant morale boost as the team prepares for a challenging road trip through Utah, Vegas, and Colorado over the U.S. Thanksgiving week.
Xhekaj Brothers Make Their Mark
The game was a historic one for the Xhekaj family, as Florian Xhekaj made his NHL debut alongside his older brother, Arber. The younger Xhekaj made his presence felt immediately, recording a hit on his very first shift. He later dropped the gloves with the Leafs' Dakota Mermis in a spirited third-period fight, amassing seven penalty minutes. Florian was not just a physical force; he also notched his first career point, an assist on a Josh Anderson goal, coming just one goal shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick. The brothers combined for seven hits in the game.
Offensive Outburst Seals the Deal
The Canadiens' offence came to life early and often against a depleted Maple Leafs squad missing key players like Auston Matthews. Lane Hutson opened the scoring midway through the first period, assisted by the familiar duo of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Just 1:22 later, defenceman Noah Dobson wired home his second of the season to double the lead, with helpers from Mike Matheson and Ivan Demidov.
The second period saw the Habs extend their dominance. Dobson struck again on the power play for his second of the night, with Demidov collecting another assist and Juraj Slafkovsky getting on the scoresheet. The onslaught continued when Florian Xhekaj set up Josh Anderson for his fourth goal of the season, chasing Leafs starter Joseph Woll from the net after Montreal outshot Toronto 17-6 in the frame.
Although the Leafs managed to break Dobes's shutout bid late in the second and added a power-play goal from William Nylander in the third, the result was never truly in doubt. Anderson sealed the 5-2 win with an empty-net goal, his second of the game. The final horn didn't end the hostilities, as Arber Xhekaj and Dakota Joshua engaged in a post-game skirmish.
What's Next for the Habs?
The convincing win has ignited debate about the team's immediate future, particularly in goal. With both Dobes and Samuel Montembeault struggling for consistency, the strong performance gives coach Martin St. Louis a compelling case to ride the hot hand and start Dobes in the next game. The team is off until Wednesday, providing time to integrate potential new additions, as rumours swirled during the game about Montreal's interest in signing forward Alexandre Texier from the St. Louis Blues.
