Canadiens bounce back from embarrassing loss with comeback win over Mammoth

The Canadiens were coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Jets in which they blew a 4-0 lead with 2:39 remaining in regulation, completing the latest four-goal comeback in NHL history.

Thursday’s start wasn’t much better. Cooley scored on Utah’s first shot and added his second nine minutes into the game to give the Mammoth a quick 2-0 lead. Montreal also trailed 3-2 and 4-3 in the third period, largely because of Utah’s clinical power play, but found a way to respond each time.

“There’s a lot to like about today’s game for us, especially after Tuesday,” winger Juraj Slafkovsky said after the Canadiens outshot the Mammoth 35-20.

“Just the fight. They had some power-play goals, we broke a stick and stuff, but we always came back. Fought hard, got to net, had a lot of shots. Won the game at the end, so that’s what I like the most.”

Nick Suzuki’s return to the lineup certainly helped.

The Canadiens captain missed six games with a left-hand injury that brought his 546-game iron man streak to an end. He wasted little time to make an impact Thursday.

Suzuki finished a slick cross-ice feed from Slafkovsky for Montreal’s first goal at 15:25 of the first period. The first-line centre added two assists, including one on Caufield’s overtime winner, while recording four shots and two hits and winning 55 per cent of his faceoffs in 20 minutes of ice time.

“We give up two goals quickly, and Suzi is one of the first guys to calm the group,” St. Louis said. “And he doesn’t just calm the group, he tries to take charge on the ice. He played a great game for a guy who hasn’t played in two weeks.”

Suzuki, however, was quick to spread the credit. Arber Xhekaj, Kirby Dach and Adam Engstrom — with his first in the NHL — all scored their first goals of the season.

Xhekaj hammered a slap shot from the point past Sebastian Cossa glove-side at 17:10 to tie the game, recording a speed of 156.46 km/h for the hardest shot resulting in a goal this season.

Dach, back from missing time with an illness, later tied the game 3-3 with a power-play goal 69 seconds into the third period, and Engstrom evened the score at 4 with five minutes left in regulation.

“Big goals from different guys,” Suzuki said. “It’s a collective game and we have one of the deepest teams in the league, so I think that shows it.”

The Canadiens (10-3-3) visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

GOAL CAUFIELD

Caufield beat Cossa with a wrist shot down the right wing for his team-leading 11th of the season, and his second in overtime. In 384 games, the sharpshooting American became the fastest player in NHL history to score 15 career overtime goals, ahead of Connor McDavid (559).

“So quick, I mean, just a gifted player,” said Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes, who stopped 16 shots in the win. “He can score everywhere. Video games, on the ice, in practice, probably somewhere else, too. He’s just a goal scorer. He’s unbelievable.”

POWERED UP

Utah’s league-best power play continued to thrive. With three goals on five chances, the Mammoth’s man advantage is now 23-for-60 this season, a 38.3 per cent rate.

MILESTONE MOMENT

Engstrom leapt into the glass in celebration after his wrist shot from the slot beat Cossa on the glove side. The 22-year-old Swede was playing his 25th career NHL game and said Xhekaj, his defence partner, had predicted he would score before each of their outings.

“Now he finally got it right,” Engstrom said with a laugh. “No, that was a big relief. I mean, there was so much emotion, just to score your first NHL goal, that’s all the work you put in during your hockey career. And to see one finally go in is unbelievable.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canadiens bounce back from embarrassing loss with comeback win over Mammoth

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