Canadiens buy in to ‘winning culture’ as streak extends to five games

“Everyone’s gotta do it. It’s not fun, but you’ve gotta do it.”

The Canadiens (9-3-2) blocked 22 shots to lessen the load on rookie goalie sensation Jacob Fowler, a sign of the winning habits they’ve developed after an early-season stretch marked by blown leads.

“Sometimes that’s what it takes,” head coach Martin St. Louis said. “The guys blocked a ton of shots, and that helped us win the game.”

Not only are the Canadiens winning, but they’re on a five-game streak without several key players.

Captain and first-line centre Nick Suzuki is out for the first time in his career with a hand injury, skilled winger Ivan Demidov hasn’t played since Oct. 3, and fleet-footed defenceman Mike Matheson will miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.

“It’s the next-man-up mentality,” Anderson said. “We’ve got some huge pieces that are not in our lineup that we’re looking forward to getting back, hopefully pretty soon here.”

One of the players to step up was Owen Beck, called up from the AHL in Suzuki’s absence.

The 22-year-old centre raised the roof midway through the second period when he finished a hard hit on Penguins defenceman Kaedan Korczak, then pummelled forward Blake Lizotte in his first NHL fight.

“He looks like an NHL player,” St. Louis said. “He’s knocking on the door. He brings a lot. His intensity, his speed, his toughness.”

St. Louis also credited Beck’s assist on Montreal’s opening goal with sparking the Canadiens in a game they could have dropped after an undefeated four-game Western road trip.

Pittsburgh came out strong with Karlsson teeing up a one-timer to open the scoring on the power play at 2:08 in the first period, but the Canadiens swiftly replied with two goals 24 seconds apart.

Oliver Kapanen beat a shaky Sergei Murashov after Beck found him on the rush at 2:41, before Anderson picked off Hendrix Lapierre’s breakout pass and ripped a shot into the top-right corner.

“You win four in a row, you come back home, it’s not easy to win another. It’s not easy to keep winning in this league,” St. Louis said. “We had a big game from our young line. It was a nice play out of the zone, tape-to-tape and in the goal. It made us breathe a little bit, and then we took off.”

Anderson’s line, alongside Jake Evans and Chris Kreider, also left its fingerprints all over the win.

Kreider had one goal and one assist in arguably his best showing since the Canadiens signed the veteran winger in September. He and Evans finished plus-4, while Anderson was plus-3 as the line combined for eight of Montreal’s 27 shots.

“We needed a big night,” Anderson said. “We struggled over the last few games, but I like the way we responded as a line, as a team.”

GLOVES OFF

Beck, who has fought three times in the AHL and twice in the Ontario Hockey League, was asked if his bruising second-period shift was his most physical in the NHL.

“Hard to disagree,” he said, laughing. “I’m willing to do anything to be a part of this team and help the boys any way I can. It doesn’t happen often, but sure as hell is fun when they come off.”

SID THE KID

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tallied one goal and two assists after receiving a loud ovation from the Bell Centre crowd when he was announced in the starting lineup.

His 1,113 career assists are now the most with one franchise in NHL history, passing Boston Bruins great Ray Bourque. The 39-year-old centre also tied Marcel Dionne for sixth on the all-time scoring list with 1,771 career points.

“I’ve been pretty fortunate to be a part of this organization for a really long time,” Crosby said. “It’s crazy how fast it goes, but definitely honoured to be in that company.”

Crosby has four goals and six assists in 14 games amid a slow start for the Penguins (5-7-2).

PHIL THE THRILL

Canadiens centre Phillip Danault skated in his 800th game, 419 of which have come over two stints in Montreal. He received loud applause and saluted the crowd when the milestone was announced midway through the second period.

“By the way, I wasn’t going for a lap. It was my turn to get on the ice,” he said with a laugh. “The guys were laughing, it was funny. Martin said, ‘Phil, you’re up!’ I looked up and I’m on the jumbotron.

“Means a lot. I still have a lot in me, but it’s nice to receive that from the crowd.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canadiens buy in to ‘winning culture’ as streak extends to five games

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