Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Winnipeg Jets: match recap

Match recap

Montreal edged Winnipeg 2–1 in a Heritage Classic that lived up to its outdoor-battle billing. The Canadiens got goals from Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle to build a two-goal cushion, then held off a late Jets push after Isak Rosen broke the shutout.

Montreal struck first when Lane Hutson buried a feed from Cole Caufield, and Kaiden Guhle doubled the lead later in the period thanks to another Caufield helper. Winnipeg tightened up defensively through the middle frame but couldn't solve the Montreal netminder until Isak Rosen scored in the third, assisted by Gabriel Vilardi and Haydn Fleury. The Jets pushed for an equalizer with the extra attacker but the Canadiens held firm, securing a 2–1 win on a neutral-ice outdoor stage.

Key factors

• Montreal's quick start with two first-period goals forced Winnipeg to chase the game from the opening frame.
• Cole Caufield's two-assist night proved decisive, as his playmaking created the separation the Canadiens needed.
• Winnipeg's injury-depleted lineup — without Morrissey, Namestnikov, and Bjugstad — lacked the finishing touch to complete a comeback.

The Analyst's take

Montreal capitalized on its limited chances in a low-event outdoor game, while Winnipeg's short-handed roster struggled to generate consistent pressure. The model share (57.2% away) reflects a Canadiens side that executed its game plan cleanly; the Jets will need better health and more offensive zone presence to swing these tight contests.