Hockey in Its Purest Form: Canadiens Win Heritage Classic in the Truth North

Written by Christina Winnegar | October 26, 2026

Photo from Montreal Canadiens Instagram

The Montreal Canadiens’ Heritage Classic day started well before puck drop. At the Scotiabank National Hockey League (NHL) PreGame fan festival, fans could attempt hockey challenges, take photos and explore more than 20 partner activations. Canadian Tire’s The Pond featured goalie skills and custom hockey ornaments; Sport Chek hosted a hardest-shot challenge; Safeway brought its Mobile Food Experience trailer for samples and giveaways; it also included the Tim Hortons activation featuring a familiar face behind the counter: Former Winnipeg Jets Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. 

Photo from Montreal Canadiens Instagram

Montreal brought a theme of its own to the red carpet following the hosting Winnipeg Jets' debut. The Canadiens arrived dressed at Princess Auto Stadium, home of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as brewery workers in coveralls and hard hats, a nod to the Molson family and team president Geoff Molson. 

The game was Montreal’s fifth outdoor appearance overall and its third Heritage Classic. The Canadiens entered with a 2-2 record in outdoor games; the win moved them to 3-2. Their other outdoor appearances included the 2016 Winter Classic and the 2017 NHL 100 Classic. 

Goaltender Jacob Fowler made history in net, becoming the youngest goalie in NHL history to start an outdoor game at just 21 years and 335 days old. 

The opening period ended scoreless. Montreal was outshot 10-8, and Fowler stopped all 10 shots he faced. #15 Alex Newhook had a short-handed breakaway attempt turned aside by Jets’ Stuart Skinner at 17:15. #45 Alexandre Carrier was called for interference at 16:14. 

Montreal scored twice to take a 2-0 lead. #48 Lane Hutson opened the scoring at 7:19, assisted by #53 Noah Dobson and #13 Cole Caufield. #21 Kaiden Guhle added the second goal at 11:04, with assists from #13 Cole Caufield and #20 Jurag Slafkovský. Huston’s goal was his third of the season and Guhle’s was his second. #15 Alex Newhook was called for high-sticking at 12:53. The Canadiens had seven shots to Winnipeg’s 11 but managed to keep the Jets scoreless with their penalty kill, concluding the second with a 2-goal lead. 

#27 Isak Rosén scored at 15:24 to put Winnipeg on the board, but Montreal held on for the 2-1 win. The Canadiens were outshot 13-6 in the period. #15 Alex Newhook was called for tripping at 5:08, and #17 Josh Anderson took a tripping penalty at 18:28.

 

Photo from Montreal Canadiens Instagram

After the game, I asked Slafkovský what made the win with this group so special. He pointed to the team’s closeness and having family there, “This team is one big family, and we all enjoy, you know, all having our families here, like I said – just a great experience, being out here, you know, playing outdoors; it’s what you dream of when you’re a little kid.”

I asked Caufield the same question. He credited the team’s all-around effort, including Fowler’s performance and the penalty kill: “I think it was a big group effort tonight. Obviously, [Jacob] Fowler was really good back there. But [the penalty] kill was unreal. You know, and the defenseman get on the board too, helps a lot. So, up and down the lineup, I thought it was great.”

Asked what memory he would take away from the weekend, Caufield said: “First outdoor game, so I think just honestly, it was just fun to be out here and play. It was a different experience, and, you know, one that I think everybody wants to do again.”

Game notes: 

Final score: Canadiens 2, Jets 1. Montreal goals: Lane Hutson (3), Kaiden Guhle (2). Cole Caufield had two assists, Noah Dobson and Juraj Slafkovský each had one. Jacob Fowler: 33 saves on 34 shots (.971 save percentage). Shots: Montreal 21, Winnipeg 34. Special teams: Canadiens penalty kill went 4-for-4, and Montreal had no power-play opportunities. Attendance: 32,342 at Princess Auto Stadium.