Post by : Maya Rahman

In an exhilarating matchup at the Scotiabank Saddledome, Mike Matheson delivered the game-winner just one minute into overtime, clinching a 2-1 victory for the Montreal Canadiens against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. Matheson capitalized on a setup from rookie Ivan Demidov, sealing the win and extending Montreal's impressive streak to two wins in a row and six victories in their last seven outings.

After the game, Matheson highlighted the contributions of teammates Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Lane Hutson, whose offensive pressure in the Flames' zone paved the way for the overtime goal. “It was a great play by ‘Demi’; I just had to put it away,” he remarked.

The Canadiens took an early lead when Zack Bolduc scored a power-play goal at 17:09 of the first period, thanks to a slick pass from Suzuki that allowed him to fire the puck past Flames goalie Dustin Wolf. Montreal's Jakub Dobes stood firm in net, registering 36 saves and keeping Calgary's scoring chances at bay amid a barrage of shots.

With the game tied in the third period, Adam Klapka of the Flames leveled the score at 5:56, after stealing the puck from Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson and firing it past Dobes. Despite Wolf's 26 saves, Calgary has now suffered a disappointing 0-6-1 run in their last seven games, struggling to find their rhythm.

Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis praised his team's strategic execution in overtime. “Winning in OT is always rewarding. The guys made calculated plays, and we succeeded due to our adjustments,” he noted. This victory underlined Montreal's knack for crucial overtime performances, marking their third overtime win this season.

Demidov, the rookie who assisted on the OT winner, now has eight points in his first ten NHL games, becoming the first Canadiens player to achieve such a feat since Andrew Cassels in 1989-90. Meanwhile, Dobes, who started the previous season at 5-0-0, maintained his perfect start at 4-0-0, becoming just the second rookie goaltender in NHL history to accomplish multiple 4-0-0 debuts, following Wayne Thomas.

Nick Suzuki further extended his impressive point streak to seven games with an assist on Bolduc’s goal, amassing one goal and ten assists during this period. The performances of Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson proved vital as well, especially in the decisive overtime phase.

The Canadiens' victory reinforces their solid season start and showcases their ability to thrive under pressure. Conversely, the Flames will aim to rebound from this latest defeat and rediscover their early-season momentum. While both teams demonstrated resilience and skill, it was Montreal's mix of talented forwards and dependable goaltending that ultimately triumphed in overtime.