The Montreal Canadiens bounced back from their lacklustre effort on Tuesday, with a big, hard-fought 3-2 win in the shootout over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. The Habs were led by Jakub Dobes’ 29 saves on 31 shots as well as stopping all three shooters in the shootout to get the win. This was the Canadiens’ first win in the shootout of the season, thanks to Cole Caufield, who got the lone goal in the shootout.
The Montreal Canadiens beat the Winnipeg Jets 3–2 in a shootout.
Thoughts?
Les Canadiens de Montréal ont battu les Jets de Winnipeg 3–2 en tirs de barrage.
Prochain match : Canadiens @ Maple Leafs
Le 6 décembre à 19 h#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/nwuyd0O9zb
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) December 4, 2025
The Habs’ all-around team effort throughout the game was also the best way the players could honour Andrei Markov on the night he had his pregame tribute. They demonstrated that they could, in fact, play a full game with great effort, as there was rarely a moment when the players failed to work towards victory. Despite it not being their easiest win, they did what was needed to get it, and that’s why it was well deserved, especially for Dobes, who was phenomenal.
There were a couple of defensive breakdowns, but thanks to Dobes, the Canadiens would never fall too far behind. He managed to always keep them in the game. However, the same could be said at the other end for Jets netminder Eric Comrie, who, like Dobes, was a clear difference maker for his team on Wednesday. Both goaltenders had identical stats of 29 saves on 31 shots after 65 minutes of play. The only difference was that Dobes stopped everyone in the shootout, whereas Comrie allowed one, which gave the Habs the win. Although both goaltenders were deserving of a victory, and it is fitting that the game went to the wire.
Important save from Dobes on this chance. pic.twitter.com/1QyQCa6hsa
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) December 4, 2025
At this point, with the way he’s playing and how Samuel Montembeault has looked, there is no denying that Dobes is the team’s number 1 goaltender right now. Sadly, because of so many back-to-backs in December, there will be a very even split between the netminders. Therefore, the Habs will need to shore up their defensive game if they want to finish this month above .500, as Montembeault will be hard to trust in any game he plays. At least Dobes proved on Wednesday that the players can trust him to help get the defence out of trouble.
Connor outworks the top pairing before Scheifele makes it 1-0 Jets. pic.twitter.com/OfwF5MoFZc
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 4, 2025
The first period was a solid back-and-forth period that saw both the Habs and Jets trade scoring chances that could have easily gone in, but the goalies stayed on their A game. However, it took Mark Scheifele to sneak past the Canadiens’ defence and receive a pass from Kyle Connor, who threaded it over to him, where he was able to beat Dobes to give the Jets a 1-0 lead with just 1:25 left in the opening frame. It was a goal that hurt the Habs, but at the same time, unlike on Tuesday, they didn’t break from the game’s opening goal.
Juraj Slafkovsky scores his 9th of the season and SIXTH on the power play 🤯🚨 pic.twitter.com/qvAggswYHQ
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 4, 2025
The Habs would capitalize on the power play, with a goal by Juraj Slafkovsky in front of the net off passes from Caufield and Nick Suzuki to tie the game up on their only man advantage of the night. It was Slafkovsky’s 6th power play goal of the season, which leads the team, while Caufield has now registered an assist in 8 straight games. Despite being known as a sniper, Caufield has clearly developed a knack for playmaking as well.
Broken stick assist ⁉️ pic.twitter.com/RtSToVURWb
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) December 4, 2025
Under 2 minutes later, with the Canadiens hemmed in their zone thanks to Slafkovsky playing without a stick and the refs not blowing down a play after the puck seemed lost around the crease, the Jets’ top line was able to capitalize on the Habs scrambling in their zone. It was a pass from Gabriel Vilardi to Kyle Connor in front that would give the Jets a lead again. This goal was the result of the defence breaking down while chasing the puck around the zone, while Slafkovsky was the only guy who was playing his man well but without a stick couldn’t do much.
How about this Demidov/Kapanen connection? 🥵 pic.twitter.com/0G89cjjwzY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2025
Luckily for the Habs, it would only take a little over two minutes before they would tie the game once again. Ivan Demidov would win a footrace to the puck in the corner, where he would feed his linemate Oliver Kapanen so flawlessly in the slot as he crushed a one-time wrister past Comrie to make the game 2-2. Demidov and Kapanen continued to show amazing chemistry when playing together all night long on Wednesday. Despite not seeming like the best fit alongside an uber-skilled forward like Demidov, Kapanen continues to make their chemistry work by finishing the young star’s plays.
The 3rd period featured both goaltenders coming up clutch for their respective teams yet again. Both teams traded chances, but nobody was able to buy a goal, and the game was sent to overtime.
Mike Matheson needs to change stick companies immediately.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 4, 2025
In overtime, the best chance for the Jets came on a 2-on-1 where Dobes made a beautiful save on Vladislav Namestnikov to keep the game going. While the Habs’ best opportunity came late in the frame, when Mike Matheson had a clear opportunity to end the game with a one-timer, but his stick broke. It seems like Matheson is having a lot of issues with his stick breaking; maybe it’s time for him to look for a new stick, as his current ones break too easily.
Caufield scores first in the shootout. pic.twitter.com/06YSc7OuR5
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 4, 2025
In the shootout, the first player to go was Caufield, who beat Comrie five-hole to give the Habs the lead. Alexandre Texier and Suzuki were unable to score, but with Dobes stopping all 3 Jets shooters, it wasn’t needed to get the win.
Jakub Dobes was so hype after the Habs won in shootout
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 4, 2025
The Canadiens improved to 14-9-3 with the win, while Dobes’ record is now 9-3-2 on the year. It was far from easy on Wednesday night, but the Habs did the work needed to steal a win. Maybe Markov’s speech about his love for the city, fans, and old teammates was enough to help the team come out with a strong 60+ minute effort, as in terms of pure work this game was one of the best of the season.
The Habs’ next game is Saturday, when they head to Toronto to take on the archrival Maple Leafs in what is usually always a great Saturday night game.
After the game, the Canadiens also sent forward Florian Xhekaj and defenseman Adam Engstrom back to the Laval Rocket.
How did you find the Habs’ effort level on Wednesday?