Jake Evans Plays Overtime Hero as Canadiens Outlast Golden Knights in 4-3 Thriller
After two tough losses that felt more like missed opportunities than outright defeats, the Canadiens finally got the result they were chasing. Tuesday night at the Bell Centre, Montreal pulled off a gutsy 4-3 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights, and it was Jake Evans-yes, Jake Evans-who played the hero, burying the game-winner on a two-on-one rush.
Let’s break this one down.
Dobes Gets the Nod, and Eventually Settles In
With Samuel Montembeault coming off a couple of rough outings, head coach Martin St. Louis opted for a change between the pipes, giving Jakub Dobes the start.
It wasn’t the smoothest opening for the rookie netminder. Vegas came out flying-no surprise after getting embarrassed 7-1 by Ottawa in their previous game-and Dobes looked uncomfortable early.
He was fighting the puck, and a shaky glove save on a routine wrister two minutes in didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
But credit where it’s due: Dobes found his game as the night went on. He locked in, made several timely stops, and gave his team a chance to win. That’s exactly what you want from a young goalie trying to earn a foothold in the NHL.
Vegas Strikes First, But Habs Push Back
After weathering the early storm, the Canadiens started to tilt the ice back in their favor. They worked the puck well in the offensive zone, but one miscue turned costly.
Ivan Demidov couldn’t connect with Alexandre Carrier on a risky offensive-zone play, and with Carrier caught deep, Vegas countered quickly. Lane Hutson did a decent job taking away the pass on the ensuing two-on-one, but Pavel Dorofeyev, playing in his 200th NHL game, still managed to pick the top corner on Dobes to open the scoring.
It was a fast, flowing first period-just eight whistles total-and while high-danger chances were limited, Montreal held their own against one of the West’s top squads. The only knock?
Shot accuracy. The Habs managed just eight shots on net out of 26 attempts.
That’s not going to cut it long-term.
Caufield’s Called-Back Goal Highlights a Wild Second
The second period brought more action-and a bit of controversy. Cole Caufield looked to have tied the game with a signature one-timer on the power play, despite snapping his stick in half on the shot.
Half of it ended up in the crowd. But the celebration was short-lived.
A coach’s challenge revealed Caufield was offside on the zone entry, wiping the goal off the board.
Montreal didn’t let the setback derail them. They stayed aggressive, and eventually, the pressure paid off.
Zach Bolduc fired a shot from the point that Phillip Danault tipped past Akira Schmid to officially get the Habs on the board. That’s two goals in four games for Danault, and if he can find some offensive rhythm to go along with his usual defensive reliability, it’ll be a big boost down the stretch.
Caufield, meanwhile, wasn’t done. After being robbed on a two-on-one earlier in the period-and denied again late in the first-he finally broke through.
A shot from Noah Dobson deflected right to him in the slot, and Caufield buried it to give Montreal a 2-1 lead. That’s six straight games with a goal for the Canadiens’ sniper, who’s clearly in one of his patented hot streaks.
A Wide-Open Finish
The second period ended with both teams trading chances and Vegas drawing a late penalty that carried into the third. Montreal, to their credit, killed it off and stayed disciplined, adding another successful kill shortly after. But offensively, they went quiet for most of the final frame.
Dobes continued to stand tall, making several key stops to preserve the lead. But with just over three minutes left, Dorofeyev struck again-this time tipping a Ben Hutton point shot to tie the game and send it to overtime. Given how evenly played the game had been, it felt like a fair result, even if the Canadiens were once again unable to protect a third-period lead.
Overtime Drama and the Evans Finish
Alexandre Texier drew a penalty late in regulation, giving the Habs an extended four-on-three power play in overtime. Montreal rolled out four forwards, hoping to end it quickly.
But the setup lacked movement and urgency-two things that make their man-advantage dangerous. Vegas killed it off without too much trouble, aside from one sprawling stop on Juraj Slafkovsky.
Once the penalty expired, the game shifted to four-on-four, and ironically, that’s when it started to look more like actual hockey again. Texier, who’d had a quietly effective night, made another big play, springing Jake Evans on a two-on-one with Kaiden Guhle. With John Marino shading toward Guhle, Evans took it himself, sold the shot, pulled the puck to his backhand, and slid it past Schmid for the winner.
That’s Evans’ first goal in six weeks-injuries played a role in that drought-but what a way to snap it. Timely, confident, and decisive.
Canadiens’ 3 Stars
1st Star: Jakub Dobes
The early jitters were real, but Dobes responded with poise and resilience.
He tracked the puck well, showed improved rebound control, and made several high-difficulty saves to keep the Habs in it. A .941 save percentage on 34 shots?
That’s how you earn another start.
Stat line: 32 saves on 34 shots, 1.89 GAA, .941 SV%
2nd Star: Cole Caufield
It took him a couple of tries, but Caufield extended his goal streak to six games.
He was buzzing all night, generating quality looks and staying engaged even after the disallowed goal. When he’s rolling, Montreal’s top line becomes a real threat.
Stat line: 1 goal, +1, 2 PIM, 5 shots, 19:27 TOI
3rd Star: Noah Dobson
You could make a case for Evans here, but Dobson was steady and impactful all game.
He was active defensively, helped drive transition, and played a direct role in Caufield’s goal with a smart shot to the slot. That’s the kind of two-way play the Canadiens need from him.
Stat line: 1 assist, +2, 2 hits, 3 blocks, 20:41 TOI
Final Word
This was a well-earned win for the Canadiens-one that showed resilience, depth scoring, and a young goalie rising to the occasion. It wasn’t perfect, and the inability to close out games in regulation is still a concern, but this one felt like a step forward. If Dobes can build on this, and if Caufield keeps lighting the lamp, Montreal could start stringing some wins together.