Canadiens Break Stars' Streak With Second-Period Surge in 5-2 Win

The momentum shifted decisively in the second period when the Montreal Canadiens opened a four-goal lead, a surge that proved insurmountable for the Dallas Stars. The visitors ultimately secured a 5-2 victory on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at American Airlines Center in front of an attendance of 18,532.

This win allowed Montreal to extend their lead in the standings, while Dallas struggled to contain the opposing attack despite a solid first-half effort.

Early Exchange and Momentum Shift

The game began with a rapid exchange of strikes. Cole Caufield opened the scoring for Montreal with a snap shot, assisted by Phillip Danault and Alexandre Carrier. Wyatt Johnston quickly answered for Dallas, finding the net with a snap shot of his own, with help from Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen.

Alex Newhook then restored Montreal's lead with a backhand goal, assisted by Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson. Caufield struck again in the first period, adding a second goal via a snap shot, assisted by Adam Engstrom and Juraj Slafkovský. The visitors carried a 3-1 lead into the intermission, having outscored Dallas 3-1 in the opening frame.

Second-Period Surge

The decisive moment arrived as the second period unfolded. Alex Newhook extended Montreal's advantage with another backhand goal, this time assisted by Chris Kreider and Noah Dobson. That goal made the score 4-1, establishing a cushion that Dallas could not overcome.

Jamie Benn pulled one goal back for the home side with a wrist shot, assisted by Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. However, the Stars failed to generate further momentum, ending the period down by three goals.

Final Frame and Standings

In the third period, the Canadiens closed out the contest with a goal from Phillip Danault. His wrist shot, assisted by Jake Evans, made the final score 5-2. Montreal dominated the scoring in the final frame, adding one goal to their tally, while Dallas was held scoreless. The final period score was 1-0 in favor of the visitors.

The result improves the Montreal Canadiens' record to 8-3-2, giving them 18 points. The Dallas Stars' record falls to 7-5-1, with 15 points. Cole Caufield was the standout performer for Montreal, recording two goals and two points.

Noah Dobson contributed two assists for the visitors. For Dallas, Wyatt Johnston finished with one goal and two points, while Mikko Rantanen recorded two assists. The Stars' inability to score in the third period sealed their defeat in this high-scoring affair.

Sources

ESPN