The Montreal Canadiens didn't just lose a hockey game on Tuesday night. They managed to turn a comfortable 4-0 lead into a five-alarm fire, surrendering four goals in the final 2:39 of regulation before eventually losing in overtime. After five consecutive wins, the Canadiens found a rather spectacular way to come back down to earth. For anyone searching for a Montreal Canadiens game recap, the headline practically writes itself: this was a collapse that deserves more than a passing mention. Let's pour the coffee.
☕ Jacob Fowler: Another outstanding performance from the rookie, at least until the wheels came off. Fowler stopped the first 37 shots he faced, keeping Winnipeg off the scoreboard for 57:21. Then came the avalanche... of goals, not from Colorado. Five goals on the remaining shots, and suddenly a .894 save percentage that hardly tells the story of his night. He was the reason Montreal was still in the driver's seat. You can't expect a goaltender to keep bailing out a team that refuses to defend. Even Superman eventually runs out of clean capes.
☕ Josh Anderson: His seventh goal of the season puts him on pace for 39. Not bad for a guy many had already written off. With an expiring contract and pending unrestricted free agency, the Powerhorse might want to start practising his autograph. Cha-ching!
☕ Cole Caufield: Goals number nine and ten, both on the power play, on four shots. Caufield continues to do what goal scorers are supposed to do. Find open space, get the puck and make the goalie regret his career choices. Still, at even strength, that line is missing its engine.
☕ Owen Beck: Another solid outing from the young forward, opening the scoring with a well-placed snap shot. Even better, the goal featured assists from both Xhekaj brothers. A family affair, with the entire family apparently having a pretty good night.
☕ Winnipeg's workhorses: The Jets leaned heavily on four forwards: Mark Scheifele (28:09), Kyle Connor (27:50), Gabriel Vilardi (25:14) and Cole Perfetti (21:03). When your team is desperate to end a nine-game losing streak, you ride your horses. Last night, those horses nearly pulled the Bell Centre down.
☕ The shot clock: Winnipeg outshot Montreal 47-22, controlling the play in all three periods. Even in overtime, the Jets held a 4-1 advantage. They also fired 19 shots in the second period alone. This wasn't a case of the Canadiens getting caught sleeping for a few minutes. They spent most of the evening watching Winnipeg play hockey.
☕ Blocking shots: In addition to the 47 shots that reached Fowler, Montreal blocked another 23. Winnipeg blocked just nine. That's 70 shot attempts stopped or blocked by the Canadiens. Unfortunately, blocking shots doesn't count as possessing the puck, and the Canadiens spent far too much time without it.
☕ Fashion police: Judging by social media reactions, Montreal's new uniforms aren't exactly winning over the fanbase. Too much white, not enough blue, seems to be the general consensus. We weren't sure whether we were watching the Montreal Hurricanes or the Detroit Canadiens. On television, there was an awful lot of white. Perhaps the team was trying to dress for a baptism. Unfortunately, they ended up attending their own.
☕ The Xhekaj fights: Some fans and members of the media would have you believe the two fights involving the Xhekaj brothers were the turning point. Sorry, folks, but that's not what happened. Montreal was outplayed for practically the entire game. Winnipeg finally found the back of the net with 2:39 remaining, and the pressure that had been building all night finally broke through. It wasn't the fights. It was the dam bursting. The scoreboard was flattering Montreal long before the comeback began... or the fights for that matter. Find some other scapegoats.
☕ Nick Suzuki: Although he's been practising with the team, including on the power play, the Canadiens captain remains out of the lineup. His absence continues to be felt, particularly when Montreal needs someone to settle things down and take control. There's a difference between having players on the ice and having someone who can take charge of it.
☕ Ivan Demidov: Don't start planning his return just yet. Yesterday, Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported that the forward was still walking in a boot. A subsequently circulated video showed Demidov skating, but putting very little weight on his right leg. That's hardly encouraging. Yet, no update from the organisation, making us question management's transparency. Let's hope the youngster heals properly rather than rushing back for the sake of a timetable.
☕ Next stop: The Canadiens host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night. Utah is coming off a victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs and currently sits second in the Central Division. After last night's embarrassment, Montreal will have an opportunity to show that it can learn from a very bitter cup of coffee.
Bottom Line: Five consecutive wins, followed by one of the most embarrassing collapses you'll see in a hockey season. The Canadiens escaped with a point, but let's not confuse that with a good performance. Jacob Fowler deserved better, and the coaching staff has plenty of video to review. Last night, Montreal served up a four-goal lead and somehow managed to burn the entire pot. Time to dump it, brew a fresh one and wake up before Thursday.
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