Kirby Dach scored midway through the third period to complete a Montreal Canadiens comeback, snapping the Vegas Golden Knights’ six-game win streak with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon.
Trailing 2-0 late in the second period, the Canadiens stormed back with three unanswered goals to secure their sixth win in seven games.
Cole Caufield and Emil Heineman also found the net for Montreal, while Sam Montembeault made 27 saves, including two crucial stops in the final seconds. Jake Evans saw his five-game goal streak come to an end.
Zach Whitecloud and Noah Hanifin scored for the Golden Knights, who suffered just their second loss in December after going 10-2 for the month. Adin Hill stopped 19 shots in the defeat.
Dach’s game-winning goal came on a rush, where he skillfully deked past Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb before finishing at the net.
Takeaways
Canadiens: Montreal effectively disrupted the Golden Knights’ offensive rhythm, keeping them from gaining extended possession in the offensive zone despite several quality chances.
Golden Knights: Vegas capitalized on a favorable schedule throughout December but couldn’t close out the win after taking a 2-0 lead. The Golden Knights face a softer schedule to start January and must ensure this loss remains an outlier.
Key Moment
With a 2-0 lead and a power-play opportunity midway through the second period, Vegas had a chance to put the game out of reach. However, they failed to convert, taking just three shots, including two on goal. Montreal capitalized on the missed opportunity, tying the game at 8:58 of the third and seizing the lead at 10:09.
Key Stat
100 — Caufield’s goal was the 100th of his career, marking a significant milestone for the young forward.
Up Next
The Canadiens travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks on Friday, while the Golden Knights host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.
