The Montreal Canadiens left Pittsburgh without the win, but they did leave with a comeback that turned a lopsided night into something far more dramatic. Down 5-1 in the second period against the Penguins, Montreal clawed all the way back to force overtime before a line change error opened the door for Pittsburgh’s game-winner in a 6-5 loss.
For a team chasing its first 2-0 start since the 2015-16 season, the result stings. Still, the way the Canadiens erased a four-goal deficit on the road says plenty about the group’s fight, especially after the game seemed to be slipping away fast.
The biggest reason Montreal had a chance at all was its top line finally looking like a top line. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Chris Kreider were quiet in the opener against Toronto, but against Pittsburgh they drove the offense and were involved in four of Montreal’s five goals.
Caufield scored twice, Kreider added a goal and an assist, and Suzuki led the way with four points, finishing with one goal and three assists. It was the kind of performance that matched why Martin St.
Louis paired them together in training camp in the first place.
Suzuki also ended up being the engine of the comeback. After Pittsburgh built its 5-1 cushion with five straight goals, including two on the power play, Suzuki started Montreal’s push late in the second period with a highlight-reel backhand that cut the deficit to 5-2.
Le capitaine, du revers
Nick with the slick backhand #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/jLEZEC2lKb
- Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 4, 2026
He wasn’t done there. In the third period, Suzuki set up the final two goals of the frame, with primary assists on scores by Chris Kreider and Ivan Demidov. Montreal scored four unanswered goals overall, including two in the final two minutes of regulation, to drag the game to overtime.
That kind of response was the other major takeaway from the night: the Canadiens kept coming no matter how bad things looked. The second period could have buried them, but instead they kept pressing until they were one shot away from stealing the game.
Montreal’s night also came with a blueline concern. Alexandre Carrier left in the second period with an injury and did not return for the third, leaving his status uncertain.
If he misses more time, the Canadiens have a few ways to patch things together. Kaiden Guhle is one possibility, though he has missed the start of the season and was expected to be out for a few weeks.
He has been skating at practice in a non-contact jersey, but he may still not be ready for Monday against Carolina. If Guhle isn’t available, Adam Engstrom is the next logical option, and the Canadiens could also call up David Reinbacher from Laval to serve as the extra defenseman.
In Other News...
Canadiens Fans Have Every Reason To Be Furious About That OT Loss
The Canadiens had every reason to feel they left points on the table after an overtime loss to Pittsburgh that already had plenty of tension before the final sequence. Montreal got the start it wanted with Cole Caufield opening the scoring, then watched Chris Kreider and Ivan Demidov help push the game to extra time in a matchup that felt tight all night.
In overtime, though, the conversation shifted to a disputed sequence that left the Canadiens and their fans seething. Ivan Demidov appeared to be impeded on the play leading into the Penguins winner, and Thomas Novaks goal counted anyway, turning a hard-fought game into a frustrating finish that is sure to linger for Montreal well beyond the final horn. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Deadline Pursuit Was Bigger Than Fans Realized
The Canadiens were closer to making a major move at the last trade deadline than many around the team realized. Jeff Gorton said Montreal was in serious discussions with two different teams, a sign that Kent Hughes and the front office were pushing hard to add in a market where the cost kept climbing and the competition for impact players stayed fierce. Footage from the period also showed Hughes putting a hefty package on the table, underscoring how aggressively the Canadiens were trying to explore their options.
Even without a deal getting across the line, the episode adds more context to how Montreal has been operating under Hughes and Gorton, especially with the organization still balancing present-day upgrades against the bigger-picture plan. The deadline chatter also sits alongside the broader swirl of rumors around Matthew Knies and the shifting landscape in Toronto, where management changes can alter the way trade talks unfold. For the Canadiens, the takeaway is clear: they were in the hunt, and the price tag was substantial. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Low-Risk Roster Call To Make
The Canadiens suddenly have a low-risk roster decision staring them in the face after two NHL waiver placements opened a potential path to add depth without surrendering draft picks or prospects. Michael Eyssimont of the Boston Bruins and Patrick Giles of the San Jose Sharks are both available to be claimed, and Montreal can take a look at either player as it weighs whether to make a small but meaningful adjustment to the roster.
The appeal is obvious for a team that may want more options in the lineup without paying a steep price. David Gustafson also cleared waivers recently, a reminder that these moves can be a quiet way to shuffle depth around the league, but the Canadiens still have to decide whether either available player fits what they need right now. The window is open, and with waivers, the simplest move is often the one that ends up mattering. [Read more 🡒]