LAS VEGAS – The Montreal Canadiens came from behind to claim victory against the Vegas Golden Knights with a thrilling 3-2 comeback at T-Mobile Arena on December 31, 2023, effectively ending the Golden Knights' six-game winning streak.
The stage was set for an exciting match, with the Canadiens (16-17-3) facing the Golden Knights (25-8-3), both teams riding their own waves of recent success. Initially, the Golden Knights appeared poised to assert their dominance on home ice, taking the lead just 2:23 minutes after the puck was dropped when Zach Whitecloud scored, assisted by Tomas Hertl’s slick pass.
After building on their initial success, Vegas increased their lead to 2-0 with another goal from Noah Hanifin before the end of the first period. The Canadiens trailed at the second intermission, but they remained focused, refusing to buckle under pressure.
Kirby Dach, who would later score the game-winning goal, described the collective resilience of the team by saying, "We played a deep game. We played a team game. We're finally starting to see results for the work we've been putting in and the kind of grind we’re going through as a team. It's nice to be rewarded." His sentiment reflects the overall mentality of the Canadiens as they navigated through challenging matchups, including their recent win against the Tampa Bay Lightning just two days prior.
Momentum shifted at 17:27 of the second period when Cole Caufield scored from the left circle after capitalizing on a turnover from Shea Theodore. This goal was particularly significant as it marked the 100th of Caufield's NHL career, adding to the excitement of the night. "It’s just one thing at a time right now," Caufield noted afterwards. "Obviously, there are some pretty good teams we’ve played recently, and we are just finding ways to get it done.”
Even with the game becoming tense, the Canadiens exploded with energy early in the third period. Emil Heineman tied the game 2-2 at 7:58 when he redirected David Savard’s shot, scoring the rebound. With the wind seemingly at their backs, Dach put the Canadiens ahead for the first time at 10:09, executing a deft move to outmaneuver Brayden McNabb before slipping the puck between the pads of Vegas goalie Adin Hill.
Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the collapse after his team’s strong start, stating, "Kind of some self-inflicted plays. We probably stopped playing halfway through the second the way we needed to keep pushing, and it caught up to us." The frustration was palpable as the Canadians capitalized on the Golden Knights’ fading intensity.
Despite mounting pressure from the Golden Knights, who had opportunities to get back on the board late in the game, Sam Montembeault stood tall. The goaltender turned away 27 shots, including two point-blank scoring chances within the final 14 seconds, underlining his importance to the victorious side’s defense. Montembeault’s coach, Martin St. Louis, praised the importance of teamwork, highlighting how the players are beginning to understand their capabilities and the sacrifices made for the team. “It’s fun to watch,” he said.
Despite the loss, the Golden Knights! maintained their competitive stature, as Hanifin reflected after the game, noting, "I think in the third period, we sat back a little bit too much... which is not normal for us, so I think moving forward, that's something we can take away.” The Golden Knights now prepare for their upcoming game against the Philadelphia Flyers, aiming to regain their focus and assert their home ice dominance.
This match served as both a wake-up call for the Golden Knights and a signal to the Canadiens of their growing ability to contend with top-tier teams. With the win, Montreal has now secured six victories out of their last seven contests, rallying behind effective teamwork and determination. Looking forward, the Canadiens are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks next, and fans are abuzz with anticipation about how this newfound confidence will pave the way for the team's second half of the season.