Winning eight games in a row in the modern NHL isn't just a hot streak. It's a statement. When the Montreal Canadiens walked into the Prudential Center on Saturday night, they weren't just looking for two points; they were looking to prove that their late-season surge isn't some statistical fluke.
They got it. But it wasn't easy. After blowing a three-goal lead, Montreal managed to put the New Jersey Devils away 4-3 in a shootout. This victory doesn't just extend the streak; it pushes the Habs to the 100-point mark for the first time since the 2016-17 season. If you've been waiting for this rebuild to bear fruit, stop waiting. The harvest is here.
The 3-0 trap and the Jakub Dobes show
The first half of this game felt like a clinic. Jayden Struble opened the scoring late in the first with a absolute rocket—just his second of the year—proving that Montreal's depth scoring is finally waking up. Then came the second period blitz. Ivan Demidov buried one on the power play, followed quickly by a Lane Hutson goal that made it 3-0.
At that point, most teams would've folded. The Devils didn't. They started chipping away, and honestly, if it wasn't for Jakub Dobes, this streak would've ended in regulation. Dobes turned aside 35 shots, including some heart-stoppers in the third period and overtime. He’s now won five straight starts. While everyone is talking about the skaters, Dobes is quietly becoming the backbone of this run.
Breaking down the collapse
- The Mercer Spark: Dawson Mercer finally solved Dobes mid-way through the second, giving the Devils life.
- Special Teams Swing: Jack Hughes scored a shorthanded beauty to make it 3-2 after the Devils killed off a double-minor. That’s a massive momentum shift that almost broke Montreal’s back.
- The Meier Equalizer: Timo Meier tied it with only 2:15 left on the clock.
Watching the lead evaporate was painful, but the way the Habs composed themselves in overtime and the shootout says more about this team than a blowout win ever could.
Oliver Kapanen is the shootout hero you didn't see coming
We all expected Cole Caufield to be the one to end it. Caufield is sitting on 49 goals, chasing the first 50-goal season for a Hab since Stéphane Richer in 1990. He had five shots on goal and even scored in the first round of the shootout, but the game-winner didn't belong to him.
It belonged to Oliver Kapanen. In the fifth round, Kapanen stared down former Hab Jake Allen and beat him with a clinical wrist shot. It’s these "depth" moments that define winning streaks. You can't rely on your superstars every single night. Sometimes you need a Kapanen or a Struble to step up when the big guns are being shadowed.
Ivan Demidov is officially levelling up
If you watched the game closely, the most impressive player on the ice wasn't necessarily the one on the scoresheet the most. Ivan Demidov is starting to look like the superstar Montreal drafted him to be. His puck protection is getting ridiculous. There were sequences against New Jersey where Devils defenders simply couldn't get the disk off him.
He’s moved from being a static playmaker on the half-wall to a dynamic threat that roams the offensive zone. His Expected Goals share in the first period was a staggering 75%. That's dominance. He’s shooting more, he’s hitting more, and he’s playing with a level of "swagger" that this franchise has missed for a decade.
What this 100-point milestone actually means
Hitting 100 points is a psychological barrier. For years, the Canadiens have been the "scrappy" team or the "rebuilding" team. Now, they're just a good team. Period.
Matching the eight-game win streak from October 2016 is poetic. Back then, the team relied almost entirely on Carey Price standing on his head. This 2026 version feels different. It’s driven by a wave of young talent like Hutson, Demidov, and Caufield. The underlying metrics suggest this isn't luck; it's a structural shift in how the team plays under pressure.
The road ahead
The Canadiens don't have time to celebrate. They play these same Devils tonight at the Bell Centre. Here is what to watch for:
- Caufield's 50th: The atmosphere in Montreal is going to be electric. Every time he touches the puck, expect the volume to double.
- Fatigue Factor: This was a physical, emotional shootout win. Coming back 24 hours later is the ultimate test of a winning culture.
- Goaltending Rotation: Will they go back to Dobes or give the nod to Primeau? After 35 saves and a shootout, Dobes earned a rest, but coaches hate changing a winning formula.
If Montreal sweeps this home-and-home, they move to nine straight wins. That would tie the mark set at the start of the 2015-16 season. But unlike that season—which famously fell apart—this group feels like it's just getting started. Don't bet against them right now.
Get your tickets for the Bell Centre or clear your schedule for the broadcast. History is literally one goal away for Caufield and one win away for the streak.
