The Montreal Canadiens pulled off an impressive victory on December 31, 2024, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena. With this win, the Canadiens ended the Golden Knights' six-game winning streak and brought their own year to a positive close.
The first period saw the Golden Knights seize early control of the game. Just 2:23 minutes in, Zach Whitecloud found the back of the net, delivering the opening goal after receiving a slick pass from Tomas Hertl. The Canadiens struggled defensively, and to compound their misery, Noah Hanifin scored with only 12 seconds left on the clock, extending the Golden Knights' lead to 2-0.
Vegas dominated the first period, leading the shot count significantly, but the Canadiens showed resilience. By the end of the period, they seemed poised for a comeback, just needing to find their rhythm.
Things began to turn for the Canadiens late in the second period. Cole Caufield, celebrating his 100th NHL goal, scored at the 16:27 mark, bringing the Canadiens back within one goal. This powerful shot came assisted by Nick Suzuki, who showcased his vision by finding Caufield perfectly positioned below the left circle.
With the teams heading to the third period, the Canadiens were revitalized. They came out strong, focused not only on tying the game but also on taking charge. Emil Heineman tied the game at 2-2 with his ninth goal of the season early in the third. The play sprang from David Savard's shot, which rebounded off Adin Hill's pads, and Heineman was quick to pounce on the loose puck.
But the Canadiens weren’t done yet. Just 2:11 later, Kirby Dach found the go-ahead goal, contributing to the Canadiens' momentum shift. His goal followed yet another turnover from the Golden Knights, capitalizing on their defensive mistakes.
Despite several attempts from Vegas late in the game, including pulling their goalie to gain extra offensive pressure, Sam Montembeault was exceptionally resolute. He made remarkable saves against both Hanifin and Victor Olofsson within the final moments of the game, ensuring no equalizer would come from the Golden Knights.
This defeat marks the first loss for Vegas on New Year’s Eve, cutting short what had been described as a December to Remember, with the team finishing the month with a 10-2-0 record.
Bruce Cassidy, head coach of the Golden Knights, reflected on the tough loss, stating, "Those are points we should have had. We’re abetter team thanthat, but [the points] are gone." The Golden Knights will now look to rebound on January 4 when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Canadiens closed out the year with their first multi-goal comeback win of the season, capped off by Montembeault's solid performance and their tenth victory of the month. They will be aiming to sustain this momentum as they face the Chicago Blackhawks next.
With this thrilling comeback victory, Canadiens fans can take pride as they head forward, hoping the team continues to build on this success well past the New Year.