The Detroit Red Wings delivered a statement performance on Saturday night, blanking the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 at the Bell Centre to claim top spot in the Atlantic Division. The victory was anchored by a masterful 27-save shutout from goaltender John Gibson, his third of the season.
Gibson's Goaltending Steals the Show
John Gibson's remarkable turnaround continued with a flawless performance against Montreal. The netminder, who sported an .865 save percentage and a 4-7-1 record as of November 30th, has been virtually unbeatable since. Coming into this game, his save percentage over his previous 13 starts had skyrocketed to .927, including an eight-game winning streak. With this win, Gibson has now secured victories in 12 of his last 14 starts.
The Canadiens tested him early, with captain Nick Suzuki breaking in alone just 30 seconds into the game, but he shot wide. Gibson's best save came later in the first period, robbing Oliver Kapanen on a two-on-one chance by stopping a rolling puck behind him just before it crossed the goal line.
Red Wings Dominate in Complete Team Effort
Detroit played a disciplined and opportunistic game, capitalizing on Montreal's mistakes. After hitting both the crossbar and a post in the first period, Lucas Raymond finally opened the scoring nearly five minutes into the second. He later added a bizarre goal into an empty net after a strange carom off the end boards fooled Canadiens rookie goalie Jacob Fowler, who was caught behind his net.
The Red Wings improved their record to 27-15-4, winning their third straight game. Under head coach Todd McLellan, who took over in December 2024, the team has gone 53-33-8, a dramatic improvement for a franchise that has missed the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons.
Canadiens Struggle to Generate Offense
It was a frustrating night for the home team at the Bell Centre. Montreal was held scoreless for the third time this season, despite averaging 3.39 goals per game. Their offensive struggles were highlighted by long stretches without a shot; their first of the game didn't come until the six-minute mark, and they waited until 5:46 of the second period to register their first shot in that frame.
The penalty kill also had a difficult night, taking five of the game's six minor penalties. Detroit capitalized once on five power-play opportunities. Defensively, Arber Xhekaj was a physical bright spot for Montreal, delivering eight hits in less than 13 minutes of ice time, including a massive check that sent Detroit's J.T. Compher airborne.
The game also marked a milestone for Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who played in his 500th consecutive NHL game without ever missing a contest due to injury or illness.
With the loss, Montreal's schedule now takes them on the road for the next three Saturday nights. Their next Saturday home game at the Bell Centre isn't scheduled until February 28th.
