Canadiens Fail To Solve Gibson As They Lose 4-0

In what was one of the Montreal Canadiens’ biggest games in a while on Saturday night, they weren’t able to find any offence as they fell 4-0 to the Detroit Red Wings on home ice. The Habs came up against a hot goaltender in John Gibson and didn’t give him enough of a challenge in front of his net, which resulted in the shutout. With the loss, the Habs have now fallen to 3rd place in the very tight Atlantic Division.

It wasn’t the Montreal Canadiens’ night, as they fell 4–0 to the Red Wings.

Ce n’était pas la soirée des Canadiens de Montréal, qui se sont inclinés 4–0 face aux Red Wings.

Prochain match : Canadiens vs Canucks
12 janvier à 19 h 30#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/akjbSBktks

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) January 11, 2026

On top of being unable to beat a red-hot Gibson, the Habs didn’t do themselves many favours when it came to staying disciplined on Saturday night. The Canadiens took 5 minor penalties, whereas the Red Wings only took 1 on the night. The Habs were still solid on the penalty kill for the most part, but they did allow a power-play goal for the first time in their last 5 games. Saturday night was the fewest penalties that the Habs have taken in 2026.

As for Jacob Fowler, he didn’t have a terrible game, but it wasn’t his best either, as he was the victim of a horrible bounce that led to the Red Wings opening the scoring in the 2nd period. Even if he had gotten that one back, it likely wouldn’t have made a difference, as the skaters were unable to solve Gibson in any way; the Red Wings would have still won the game anyway. On the positive side, Fowler made some excellent saves to keep the game scoreless early in the first period, but unlike most of the Habs’ recent games, it wouldn’t bring the team any momentum.

Fantastic save by Jacob Fowler on Dylan Larkin during the penalty kill. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/36PRhoTbgE

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 11, 2026

The Habs rookie netminder finished the game with 20 saves on 23 shots. This was outdone by Gibson, who stopped all 27 shots that he faced. However, he didn’t have to make too many brilliant stops against the Habs, as most of their opportunities were one-and-done.

The Red Wings came out ready to have a big night at the Bell Centre from puck drop, as they instantly got to work early on Fowler. As mentioned earlier, Fowler was rock solid in the opening frame, not allowing anything past him. Although both teams kept the shots low early on, the Red Wings outshot the Habs 6-3 during the first period.

A little bit of puck luck for Lucas Raymond and the Red Wings 🐙 pic.twitter.com/tTG5pzCph4

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 11, 2026

Unfortunately for the Habs, a dump-in by Red Wings forward James Van Riemsdyk would take an awkward bounce off the boards and in front of the net that would trick an unsuspecting Fowler, who had gone behind the net to attempt to play the puck. The first player to reach the puck as Fowler was still behind the net happened to be Lucas Raymond, who would easily put the puck into an open cage.

As bad a mistake as that goal was for Fowler, it is something that even the league’s most elite goaltenders have had happen to them, and it’s not something he really had control of. In reality, Fowler did everything that he was supposed to do, but that bounce just surprised him, which is how the Red Wings opened the scoring. There has actually been a history of goaltenders in the past who got screwed by a bounce in that area behind the net, most notably the game-tying goal in Game 3 of the NHL Semifinals in 2021 that surprised Marc-Andre Fleury.

Dylan Larkin doubles the lead on the PP pic.twitter.com/NoXCf0Bjdk

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 11, 2026

After the Habs killed their first 3 penalties of the game, they wouldn’t be as fortunate the 4th time around. Right off the faceoff to start the power play, the Red Wings would strike to make the game 2-0. Dylan Larkin would win the faceoff with the help of Alex DeBrincat, who sent the puck to the point to Moritz Seider, who would send it right back to DeBrincat before he finds Larkin at the top of the circle, where he beats Fowler with a screened shot. The Red Wings would take a 2-0 lead to the dressing room after 40 minutes.

Alex DeBrincat LOVES scoring goals 😼 pic.twitter.com/kQE6uz4frl

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 11, 2026

In the 3rd period, the Red Wings would capitalize again just 34 seconds in. Patrick Kane would enter the Habs zone and flip a pass through Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson over to DeBrincat, who was alone in the slot, to take a one-time slapper that would beat Fowler, who seemed surprised by the accuracy of the shot, to put the Red Wings up 3-0.

The Canadiens tried pushing for a goal late with the goaltender pulled, but they couldn’t get off a good opportunity to beat Gibson, and nothing came of the extra attacker for the Habs. As for the Red Wings, Andrew Copp would score in the empty net with under a minute left to give his team a 4-0 lead, which is how this one ended.

It seemed the Habs really weren’t ready to face a hot goaltender like Gibson, or just a team as mature as the Red Wings. While both teams are fighting for the top spots in the Atlantic as they exit their years of rebuilding, the Red Wings showed how their team experience was easily able to overcome the Habs’ young squad. After the way this matchup went, the Habs will surely prepare better for the next time they play the Red Wings, especially when it comes to playing against Gibson.

Nice ovation for #Habs captain Nick Suzuki, who is playing his 500th NHL game tonight at Bell Centre pic.twitter.com/SVPoqWwhD9

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 11, 2026

Captain Nick Suzuki skated in his 500th NHL game on Saturday, as his Ironman streak continues since the very start of his career. It would have been awesome had he commemorated the game with a solid performance, but there will be many more milestones that he will hit. He and the Habs will be hoping to bounce back from this disappointing game on Monday when they take on the Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 pm ET.