Canadiens Defeat Jets: Kapanen, Hutson & Montembeault Lead the Way

DALLAS – Lane Hutson’s overtime goal propelled the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on January 4, 2026, extending their impressive road form. The win marked the Canadiens’ fourth in five games during a stretch of seven consecutive road contests.

Hutson, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, secured the win with his first career overtime goal at 3:40 into the extra period. The goal was his 13th career tally. Phillip Danault added an empty-net goal with just 14 seconds remaining in regulation, sealing the result for Montreal.

The Canadiens’ offensive effort was bolstered by goals from Brendan Gallagher and Oliver Kapanen. Kapanen, who is slated to represent Finland at the upcoming Olympics, scored his 18th goal of the season, tying him for third on the team in scoring with Nick Suzuki.

Samuel Montembeault was crucial in the Canadiens’ net, stopping 24 shots to earn his first win since January 17th. His performance included stopping a dozen high-danger shots at 5-on-5 and making several key saves in the third period when the Stars pressed for an equalizer.

For the Stars, Wyatt Johnston scored twice and Mavrik Bourque added another goal. However, Dallas’ struggles continued, as they suffered their fifth consecutive loss (0-2-3), a season-long skid. Jake Oettinger made 24 saves but was unable to prevent the defeat.

The game saw a flurry of action in the second period, with Anderson and Hutson scoring 76 seconds apart to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead. The Stars were unable to respond effectively, hitting a post and having several close-in shots denied by Montembeault.

The Stars’ power play, typically a strength, failed to capitalize on three opportunities, going 0-for-3 on the night and failing to score on their last 18 home power plays dating back to December 5th.

The Canadiens demonstrated a shift in offensive strategy, focusing on shooting the puck more frequently rather than relying on extended passing sequences. This approach paid dividends, with Gallagher’s goal originating from a point shot by Alex Carrier that deflected off multiple players before finding the back of the net.

Despite the win, the Canadiens had several opportunities to score on an empty net before Danault finally converted in the closing seconds. The team entered the game holding the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and will look to solidify their position when they host the New York Islanders on February 26th.

The Stars, meanwhile, will embark on a six-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 25th. The loss dropped them into a tie for second place in both the Central Division and the overall league standings.

Kyle Connor’s first-period goal extended his point streak to five games, with two goals and four assists during that span. It also marked his ninth consecutive season scoring at least 25 goals, trailing only Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (10) for the second-longest active streak in the NHL.

Montembeault, who had allowed three or more goals in five of his six previous starts, delivered a strong performance, making his first start since January 24th a successful one. The Canadiens’ victory highlighted their ability to secure wins even when facing challenges, as evidenced by their 7-2 record in overtime games this season.