Kaprizov Lifts Wild Past Canadiens In Overtime Thriller
It was a night of resilience, drama, and a touch of déjà vu at Grand Casino Arena as the Minnesota Wild clawed their way to a 4-3 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens on February 2, 2026. For Wild fans, these home wins over the Habs have become a tradition—this marked the twelfth consecutive time Minnesota has bested Montreal on home ice. But this one was anything but routine, with momentum swings, a franchise record-tying performance, and a scary injury scare all packed into sixty-plus minutes of gripping hockey.
The Wild entered the contest with a depleted lineup, as both goaltender Jesper Wallstedt and forward Marcus Foligno were sidelined by a team-wide illness that’s been making its rounds through the locker room. With the bug forcing last-minute changes, Cal Petersen was called up from Iowa to back up Filip Gustavsson, and Tyler Pitlick slotted onto the fourth line. Despite these hurdles, the Wild wasted no time making their presence felt. Just 38 seconds after the opening faceoff, Joel Eriksson Ek took a pass into the offensive zone and snapped a wrist shot past Canadiens netminder Jakub Dobes. The early tally ignited the crowd and set the tone for a night of relentless effort.
Quinn Hughes, who has quickly become a fan favorite in Minnesota, continued his dazzling run of form. He notched three assists, tying a franchise record and marking his ninth straight game with a helper—equaling Kirill Kaprizov’s team record. Hughes’ vision and poise with the puck were on full display when he set up Kaprizov for his team-leading 31st goal of the season late in the first period. The chemistry between the two stars has been a driving force in the Wild’s recent surge, and Monday night was no exception.
But the Canadiens, riding a three-game winning streak and buoyed by a recent last-minute win over the Wild in Montreal, weren’t about to roll over. Brendan Gallagher got Montreal on the board with just 52 seconds left in the opening frame, beating a defender down the right wing and tucking a backhander past Gustavsson. The late goal trimmed Minnesota’s lead to 2-1 and hinted at the drama to come.
The second period saw both teams trade chances, but it was Montreal who again struck late. Ivan Demidov finished off a slick cross-ice pass from Lane Hutson with just 17 seconds remaining in the period, knotting the score at 2-2. The Canadiens had clearly learned from their last meeting, capitalizing on late-period lapses to keep the pressure on the home side.
Momentum swung Montreal’s way just twelve seconds into the third period. Kirby Dach, finding space behind the Wild defense, redirected a Nick Suzuki feed past Gustavsson to give the Habs their first lead of the night at 3-2. For a moment, it seemed as though the Canadiens would repeat their late-game heroics from two weeks prior. But Minnesota, undeterred and buoyed by their raucous home crowd, dug deep.
Brock Faber, enjoying a career-best season, delivered the equalizer at 7:05 of the third. Pinching in from the blue line, Faber snuck behind the Montreal defense and slipped a quick shot between Dobes’ pads. It was Faber’s 13th goal of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. The goal not only tied the game but also shifted the momentum firmly back in Minnesota’s favor.
While the Wild’s blue line got a boost with the return of veteran Zach Bogosian—back after missing 12 games with a lower body injury—the defensive corps took a hit when Daemon Hunt was forced out of the game. The 23-year-old defenseman, who has five assists, 34 blocked shots, and 15 hits in 24 games this season, took an Ivan Demidov shot to the neck midway through the first period. Referee Chris Schlenker immediately halted play, and Hunt was helped off the ice and did not return. The incident cast a shadow over the Wild’s bench, but post-game, head coach John Hynes offered a sigh of relief, stating he anticipates Hunt will be okay and should be ready for Wednesday’s game in Nashville.
As the clock ticked down in regulation, both teams traded chances, but neither could find the winner. The stage was set for overtime, where the Wild have shown a knack for the dramatic this season. And sure enough, it was Kaprizov who played the hero yet again. After being hooked on a rush to the net, Kaprizov drew a 4-on-3 power play. Hughes, ever the playmaker, fed Kaprizov in the high slot. The Russian winger handled the puck for a split second before firing his trademark wrist shot past Dobes, sealing the Wild’s fourth consecutive victory and his league-leading fourth overtime goal of the season. “I think 4-on-3, it’s easier than 5-on-4, for sure,” Kaprizov remarked after the game—a sentiment echoed by the home crowd’s thunderous applause.
Filip Gustavsson, who stopped 17 of 20 shots, summed up the team’s attitude toward extra time: “We like to work overtime. We love this job.” Gustavsson’s calm presence in net, combined with the defensive grit and offensive flair throughout the lineup, has been key to Minnesota’s recent run.
For Montreal, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak. Gallagher, Demidov, and Dach each found the back of the net, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Wild’s late rally and overtime magic. Jakub Dobes finished with 20 saves on 24 shots for the Canadiens, who will look to regroup after nearly pulling off another late-game stunner.
With the win, the Wild extended their home dominance over Montreal and head into the NHL’s extended Winter Olympics break riding a wave of confidence. Their next home game won’t come until March 1, but before then, they’ll close out the pre-Olympic portion of their schedule with a trip to Nashville on Wednesday night.
As for the fans, they were treated to a night of high drama, record-tying performances, and the kind of resilience that has become a hallmark of this Wild team. With key players expected to return from illness and Hunt’s injury not as serious as first feared, Minnesota looks poised to keep their momentum rolling as the season resumes post-Olympics. The Wild’s combination of youthful talent, veteran leadership, and a growing sense of belief has the State of Hockey buzzing—and after Monday’s thriller, who could blame them?
