The Montreal Canadiens secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over the struggling Calgary Flames on Wednesday night, with Mike Matheson scoring the decisive overtime goal.
Montreal’s Zachary Bolduc also found the back of the net, contributing to their sixth win in seven games following a season-opening defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the other side, Adam Klapka notched the lone goal for Calgary, who have now gone seven games without a win after their season-opener victory against the Edmonton Oilers.
In a showdown between the goalkeepers, Montreal’s rookie Jakub Dobes shone with 36 saves, maintaining a perfect 4-0-0 record. Meanwhile, Dustin Wolf, last year’s NHL Calder Trophy runner-up for rookie of the year, made 26 saves but fell to a 1-5-1 record.
Both teams’ goalkeepers were kept busy throughout the game, with Dobes facing a higher quantity of chances while Wolf dealt with more high-quality opportunities.
The game was tied 1-1 heading into the third period until Klapka capitalized on a turnover to level the score at 5:56. Bolduc continued to impress for Montreal, trailing only Cole Caufield in goals scored for the team, showcasing his talent since joining the Canadiens in a trade that saw Logan Mailloux move to the St. Louis Blues.
On the other hand, Calgary’s struggles in offense were evident, with their league-worst 13 goals in eight games setting a franchise low. The Flames’ offensive woes dated back to their 1972-73 expansion season in Atlanta, where they also managed only 13 goals in their first eight games.
The key moment of the game came in overtime when Montreal dominated possession, allowing for a crucial line change that caught the tired Calgary players off guard. Ivan Demidov’s precise pass found Matheson, who sealed the win with a well-placed shot.
One striking statistic highlighted Calgary’s shooting struggles, with their 5.5% shooting percentage through eight games ranking among the lowest in NHL history.
Next up, the Canadiens will face the Edmonton Oilers, while the Flames are set to clash with the Winnipeg Jets in their upcoming games.
