The momentum shifted decisively in the second period when Alex Newhook added his second goal of the game, extending Montreal’s lead and effectively setting the tone for the final frame.
The visit to American Airlines Center ended in a 5-2 defeat for the host Dallas Stars on Thursday, October 29, 2026, as the Montreal Canadiens outscored them 3-1 in the opening period and maintained their offensive pressure throughout the contest.
Early Dominance
The away team struck first, with Cole Caufield scoring his seventh goal of the season via a snap shot to make it 1-0. Wyatt Johnston responded for Dallas, finding the back of the net for his third goal with assists from Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen to tie the game at 1-1. However, the Canadiens quickly reasserted control.
Alex Newhook broke the tie with a backhand goal, assisted by Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson. Caufield then followed with his eighth goal of the season, assisted by Adam Engstrom and Juraj Slafkovský, to give Montreal a 3-1 lead heading into the intermission. The first period saw the visitors dominate the scoring, finishing with a 3-1 advantage.
Extending the Lead
In the second period, Newhook capitalized on another opportunity, scoring his third goal of the game with a backhand shot. This goal was assisted by Chris Kreider and Noah Dobson, pushing the score to 4-1.
Dallas managed to trim the deficit late in the frame when Jamie Benn scored his second goal of the season on a wrist shot, assisted by Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. The Stars finished the middle period with a 1-1 score, leaving them trailing 4-2 heading into the third.
