Jakub Dobes’s undefeated streak in 2026 came to an end on Monday night in Minnesota in a 4-3 overtime loss for the Montreal Canadiens (31-17-8) to the Wild at Grand Casino Arena.

Dobes made 20 saves in the loss, which was his first since Dec. 21. He still hasn’t lost in regulation since Dec. 9.

The Canadiens snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Wild in January, but in St. Paul, the Habs are winless since 2011.

It’s become a familiar refrain for the Habs this season, regardless of who’s in nets: the Canadiens allowed a goal on the first shot against. Joel Eriksson Ek opened scoring just 38 seconds into the contest to give the Wild a 1-0 lead.

At 15:48 of the first period, Minnesota took a two-goal lead. Kirill Kaprizov scored his first of two on the night.

Habs got a glimmer of hope before the end of the first. With 52 seconds left in the frame, Brendan Gallagher pulled moves on defenceman Quinn Hughes and goalie Filip Gustavsson we haven’t seen from the veteran in years. He tallied his fifth of the campaign to put Montreal on the board and halve Minnesota’s lead.

Vladimir Tarasenko thought he had Dobes beat in the second, but the puck ended up going off the goalie’s helmet and on top of the net. The only goal scored in the period came, once again, in the final minute of play. Lane Hutson set up Ivan Demidov for the perfect one-timer pass to tie the game 17 seconds before hitting the dressing rooms.

Just 12 seconds into the third period, the Canadiens took their first lead of the evening. Nick Suzuki from along the boards found Kirby Dach skating up the middle and he tipped the feed past Gustavsson to stun the crowd as they made their way back to their seats.

It was a tight game for much of the night, but after a sequence of end-to-end action, Brock Faber jumped in the rush and beat Dobes to tie the game at 3-3 with just under 13 minutes to play in regulation.

In overtime, the Habs had control of the puck early and couldn’t convert. After Kaprizov drew a penalty on Phillip Danault, the Russian superstar finished the job in overtime by scoring his 32nd of the season. The power-play winner sealed a 4-3 victory on home ice for the Wild.

The Canadiens came back from a two-goal deficit and had victory within grasp, but the Wild eked out a victory in frustrating fashion for the liveblog commenters on the Hockey Inside Out YouTube livestream. Lots of discussion in the comments about whether the refs should’ve called interference on the Suzuki collision entering the neutral zone on the winning goal.

It was the little things that really drew the fandom’s ire. Why did Dobes let in a softie on the first shot? Why does Suzuki struggle on offensive zone face-offs on the power play? Why did Arber Xhekaj only play 5:51 when Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle were a combined -5?

The Canadiens proved this week they can hang with the very best in the West (Wild, Avalanche, Golden Knights), in addition to a statement win against the Sabres, but this game was a rare winnable opportunity in Minny and they blew the save. And in front of Team USA general manager Bill Guerin, no less. Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson, omitted from the Olympic squad, missed a shot at revenge.

Matheson went -3, and it shows in last night’s Hockey Stat Cards report. Habs were held to 20 shots and none of the forwards stood out.

Here’s what the commenters had to say. Shout out to Paul for calling Guerin “Shooter McGavin.” You win.

3. “I just want to know, is the pick play a penalty or not, cause I feel like we get called on it a few times. Overall, a point there is not the worse thing, just sucks not to pull out the W there.” — Mario Biscotti

 

2. “Not a bad effort but not good enough. Minnesota just a bit better tonight.” — Kelly Morgan

 

1. “How are the Habs fans standing all happy to be on TV not barking at Shooter McGavin about Lane and Cole not on team?” — Paul-daniellebierman