Canadiens Push the Wild to the Brink, But OT Woes Continue in Minnesota
For the first 30 minutes of Monday night’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild, you could’ve been forgiven for checking your phone a few too many times. The shot totals sat at 11-6 midway through the second, and the pace was anything but electric. But then, the switch flipped.
The second half of the game turned into a gritty, fast-paced battle - the kind of hockey where every puck is contested, every inch of ice earned. Montreal, to their credit, went toe-to-toe with one of the Western Conference’s toughest home teams and forced overtime in a building where they haven’t won since 2011.
That streak, unfortunately, lives on. The Wild took the 4-3 win in OT, handing the Canadiens another close loss in a season full of learning moments.
Hutson vs. Hughes: A Tale of Two Blue Liners
There’s a fascinating subplot every time the Canadiens face the Wild - Lane Hutson vs. Quinn Hughes.
On paper, it’s a battle between one of the NHL’s elite defensemen and a rising star still fighting off doubts about his size and ceiling. But on the ice Monday, it was a lot more even - if not tilted in Hutson’s favor.
Bill Guerin, the man who left Hutson off the U.S. Olympic roster, was in the building in St.
Paul. And if he was watching closely, he saw both Hughes and Hutson impact the game in big ways - but not always the way the scouting report might suggest.
Late in the first period, Brendan Gallagher - yes, that Brendan Gallagher - turned back the clock and undressed Hughes with a slick inside-out move that led to Montreal’s first goal. Hughes lunged, missed, and looked every bit the part of a defender caught flat-footed. It was a highlight for Gallagher and a rare lowlight for Hughes.
Then came Hutson’s moment. In the second, the Canadiens tied it up thanks to a vintage Hutson sequence.
He beat his check down the left side, then threaded a perfect cross-ice feed through traffic to Ivan Demidov, who buried the one-timer. It was the kind of play that doesn’t just show up on the scoresheet - it shows up in the memory bank of anyone evaluating what this kid can become.
Dach Making His Case on the Top Line
Kirby Dach is starting to look more and more like a long-term fit on Montreal’s top line - and not just because of his size. With Alexandre Texier out, Dach has stepped in and delivered, especially around the net. He was a force on the cycle and kept the Wild hemmed in for long stretches.
Early in the third, Dach connected with Nick Suzuki on a beautiful give-and-go, finishing in front for his seventh goal of the season. Quietly, he’s scoring at a pace that would put him near 27 goals over a full campaign - if only he could stay healthy. That’s the big “if,” but the Canadiens are seeing how valuable his presence can be when he’s in the lineup and playing with confidence.
Dobes Battles Through a Tough Night
Jakub Dobes got the start again in net, with head coach Martin St. Louis riding the hot hand.
But this wasn’t Dobes’ sharpest outing. He gave up a soft one early - first shot, first goal - and looked like he was fighting the puck much of the night.
Still, credit where it’s due: Dobes didn’t fold. He stayed aggressive, kept challenging shooters, and battled through a tough game.
That’s what you want to see from a young goaltender. When he let his emotions show after a recent loss in New Jersey, some wondered about his mental makeup.
But if anything, this game proved he’s got the resilience to shake off a bad moment and keep competing.
The Overtime Breakdown: A Costly Decision
Montreal’s youngest team in the NHL played well enough to earn a point, but the overtime period left a bitter taste - and it came down to a veteran misstep.
Phillip Danault was on the ice for the opening faceoff in OT, and that’s his job - win the draw, then get off. But when he lost the faceoff, he lingered.
Not once, not twice, but three times he had a clean chance to get to the bench. He didn’t take it.
Instead, the Wild controlled the puck, circled the zone, and eventually Danault took a penalty trying to keep up in a speed game that doesn’t suit his strengths anymore. Minnesota scored on the ensuing power play. That’s the game.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially coming from a player who knows his role and has the hockey IQ to make the right decision. But in that moment, Danault stayed on too long - and it cost the Canadiens a shot at the win.
Trade Deadline Outlook: Quiet Confidence in Montreal
With the Olympic trade deadline looming Wednesday, there’s plenty of chatter around who might be on the move. But don’t expect fireworks from the Canadiens.
There’s no clear list of untouchables, but logic suggests a few names are staying put - Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, and Jacob Fowler. These are high-upside prospects who could anchor the top of the lineup for the next decade. Trading them would be a massive risk, and GM Kent Hughes knows it.
One rumor making the rounds involves Hage in a deal for St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas.
Thomas is a talented, established player, but he’s 26 and carries a hefty $8 million cap hit through 2031. Hage, meanwhile, is 19 and under team control for seven more years.
In a cap-conscious rebuild, that matters - a lot.
Montreal’s philosophy has always been about building for the long haul, not chasing quick fixes. They’ve already got depth at center, including Danault, Suzuki, Dach, Texier, and Newhook. So unless the right winger or right-shot defenseman becomes available at a reasonable price, don’t expect a blockbuster.
The more likely move? A big, reliable right-side defenseman for the third pair - someone who can add size and stability without costing a first-round pick.
As for the top line, the Canadiens have internal options. Dach is showing promise, Newhook is skating again, and Texier has meshed well with Suzuki and Caufield.
Bottom line: Montreal is content with its progress. The front office isn’t in a rush to speed up the rebuild. They’re playing the long game - and so far, it’s looking like the right call.
The Canadiens may have come up short in Minnesota, but they showed once again that they’re not far off. The pieces are coming together, the kids are growing up fast, and the identity is starting to solidify.
Losses like this sting - but they also teach. And for a team building something sustainable, that’s part of the process.