Canadiens' Goaltender Sees Winning Streak Halted in Minnesota
Montreal Canadiens netminder Jakub Dobes experienced his first defeat of 2026 on Monday night, as the Habs fell 4-3 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul. The loss marked the end of Dobes' impressive undefeated run that had stretched through the early part of the calendar year.
Dobes' Performance and Streak Statistics
Despite the defeat, Dobes turned in a solid performance with 20 saves against the Wild offense. This game represented his first loss since December 21, and remarkably, he still hasn't suffered a regulation defeat since December 9. The overtime result demonstrated both his resilience and the competitive nature of the matchup.
The Canadiens entered the game with a respectable 31-17-8 record, but faced historical challenges in Minnesota. While Montreal had snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Wild in January, their struggles in St. Paul continued, with the team remaining winless there since 2011.
Game Highlights and Momentum Shifts
The contest began in frustrating fashion for Montreal, continuing a troubling season-long trend. Just 38 seconds into the first period, Joel Eriksson Ek beat Dobes on the Wild's first shot, giving Minnesota an early 1-0 advantage. The scoring continued at 15:48 of the opening frame when Kirill Kaprizov netted his first of two goals on the night, extending the lead to 2-0.
Montreal found hope late in the period when veteran forward Brendan Gallagher displayed impressive skill, maneuvering around defenceman Quinn Hughes and goalie Filip Gustavsson to score with just 52 seconds remaining. The goal, Gallagher's fifth of the campaign, cut Minnesota's lead in half heading into the intermission.
The second period featured limited scoring until the final moments. With just 17 seconds remaining before the second intermission, Lane Hutson set up Ivan Demidov for a perfect one-timer that tied the game at 2-2, energizing the Canadiens bench.
Third Period Drama and Overtime Conclusion
Montreal seized their first lead of the evening just 12 seconds into the third period. Captain Nick Suzuki found Kirby Dach with a pass from the boards, and Dach tipped the puck past Gustavsson to give the Canadiens a 3-2 advantage.
The Wild responded with determination, and after sustained pressure, defenceman Brock Faber joined the rush and beat Dobes to tie the game at 3-3 with approximately 13 minutes remaining in regulation. The goal set the stage for overtime drama.
In the extra frame, the Canadiens controlled possession early but failed to convert their opportunities. After Kaprizov drew a penalty on Phillip Danault, the Russian superstar capitalized on the power play, scoring his 32nd goal of the season to secure the 4-3 victory for Minnesota.
Post-Game Analysis and Fan Reaction
The loss generated significant discussion among Canadiens supporters, particularly regarding several controversial elements of the game. Many fans questioned whether interference should have been called on a neutral zone collision involving Nick Suzuki during the sequence leading to the winning goal.
Additional concerns emerged about specific aspects of Montreal's performance. Questions circulated about Dobes allowing a goal on the first shot, Suzuki's struggles on offensive zone face-offs during power plays, and the limited ice time for defenceman Arber Xhekaj, who played only 5:51 despite Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle posting a combined -5 rating.
The game carried extra significance with Team USA general manager Bill Guerin in attendance. Montreal players Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, both omitted from the Olympic squad, missed an opportunity to make a statement in front of the American hockey executive.
Statistical analysis revealed challenges for the Canadiens, who managed only 20 shots on goal throughout the contest. None of Montreal's forwards stood out statistically, and the team's performance metrics reflected the close but ultimately disappointing result.
Fan comments captured the mixed emotions following the game. While some acknowledged that earning a point on the road wasn't disastrous, others expressed frustration about missed opportunities and questionable officiating decisions. The consensus suggested the Canadiens played competitively against one of the Western Conference's top teams but failed to secure a victory that seemed within reach.
