Devils Vs Canadiens: Kapanen’s shootout goal seals eighth straight in 4-3 New Jersey thriller

In a game that swung from control to chaos, devils vs canadiens ended with Montreal finding one more answer when it mattered most. Oliver Kapanen’s decisive shootout goal gave the Canadiens a 4-3 win over New Jersey on Saturday night in Newark, extending their streak to eight straight and sending them to 100 points for the first time since the 2016-17 season. It was a result built on early pressure, late resilience, and a finish that left both sides with a quick turnaround ahead of Sunday’s rematch in Montreal.

Early control, then a late test

Montreal opened the game with a 1-0 lead late in the first period when Jayden Struble scored his second goal of the season and just the sixth of his career. The Canadiens then added two more in the second period, first through Ivan Demidov on the power play and then from Lane Hutson, who scored 1: 16 later. That gave Montreal a 3-0 cushion and, for much of the night, a platform to manage the game rather than chase it.

But the Devils pushed back hard. Jack Hughes scored his 25th goal of the season and his second career short-handed goal late in the second period, then Dawson Mercer cut the lead to 3-2. Timo Meier tied it with just 2: 15 remaining in regulation, forcing the game beyond the third period and into the shootout. The sequence underlined how quickly an apparently secure lead can disappear in a matchup where pace and pressure remain high.

What the devils vs canadiens result reveals

The result was significant not only because of the final score, but because it added another layer to Montreal’s late-season profile. The Canadiens have now reached 100 points for the first time since 2016-17, when they finished with 103. That milestone matters because it frames this run as more than a short hot streak; it suggests sustained production over a long stretch, even while individual games continue to test the group.

Jakub Dobes made 35 saves, while New Jersey’s Jake Allen stopped 26 shots. Montreal also received points from several skaters, including Cole Caufield, who had two assists and remains at 49 goals. He is still looking to become the first Montreal Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season in more than three decades, and he will get another chance Sunday when these two teams meet again. That pursuit adds a separate storyline inside the broader devils vs canadiens sequence, one that now carries both team and individual significance.

Momentum, depth, and possession

Beyond the score sheet, the game pointed to why Montreal has been able to extend its run. The club did not rely on one line alone; it got scoring from defensemen and forwards, plus steady goaltending when the game tightened. The first period was especially important because Montreal controlled the early pace and turned that into a lead it could defend for most of the night. Even when New Jersey recovered, the Canadiens were able to survive the push long enough to reach the shootout.

That balance is notable because it suggests Montreal can win in more than one way. The Devils pressed, the scoreboard narrowed, and yet the Canadiens still managed to close it out. In practical terms, that means the streak has been driven not just by offense, but by enough structure and composure to weather games that might otherwise shift away. In the context of the devils vs canadiens matchup, that kind of resilience may be the clearest explanation for why Montreal continues to collect points late in the season.

Expert perspective and the wider stakes

Montreal’s 100-point total changes the weight of every remaining game. It also keeps attention on Caufield’s 49 goals, a total that puts him on the edge of a historic individual milestone for the franchise. At the same time, the team’s ability to win in a shootout against a division opponent shows that the margin for error remains slim. New Jersey had its chances, including the late tying goal, but Montreal still found the finish.

For the Canadiens, the broader impact is straightforward: a long winning streak, a major points milestone, and a chance for another statement game on Sunday. For the Devils, the loss is a reminder that one missed cover or one failed stop can be decisive in a tight race. The rematch in Montreal now carries extra weight, because the same matchup could affect both a streak and a goal chase.

The biggest question after devils vs canadiens is whether Montreal can turn this kind of narrow, high-pressure win into something more durable when the teams meet again Sunday.