Caufield, Newhook Lead Canadiens Past Stars 5-2 in Dallas

Canadien Offense Takes Control

The Montreal Canadiens delivered a decisive offensive performance to defeat the Dallas Stars 5-2 at the American Airlines Center. The victory, secured on Thursday, October 29, 2026, improved Montreal’s record to 8-3-2 with 18 points, while dropping Dallas to 7-5-1 and 15 points in the standings.

First Period Surge

Montreal established early dominance by scoring three goals within the opening frame. Cole Caufield opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the season, a snap shot assisted by Phillip Danault and Alexandre Carrier. The Stars responded quickly when Wyatt Johnston tied the game at 1-1 with his third goal, a snap shot supported by assists from Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen.

However, Montreal regained control almost immediately. Alex Newhook netted his second goal of the season on a backhand, assisted by Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson, giving Montreal a 2-1 lead. Caufield extended that advantage just moments later, scoring his eighth goal via snap shot with help from Adam Engstrom and Juraj Slafkovský, making it 3-1.

Second Period Expansion

The Canadiens continued their momentum into the second period. Newhook recorded his third point of the game, scoring his third goal on a backhand assisted by Chris Kreider and Noah Dobson. This goal pushed the lead to 4-1.

Dallas managed to pull one back when Jamie Benn scored his second goal with a wrist shot, assisted by Mikko Rantanen’s tenth assist of the season and Wyatt Johnston’s seventh.

Closing Out the Game

Montreal sealed the victory in the third period. Phillip Danault scored his first goal of the season on a wrist shot, assisted by Jake Evans, bringing the final score to 5-2. The attendance at the American Airlines Center was recorded at 18,532.

Key Performers

Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook were the standout players for Montreal, each contributing two goals. Cole Caufield finished with two points, while Noah Dobson also recorded two assists. For Dallas, Wyatt Johnston led the team with two points, including one goal and one assist. Mikko Rantanen contributed two assists for the Stars.

The win marks a strong start to the season for Montreal, who now hold a three-point advantage over Dallas in the standings. The Stars, playing at home, were unable to sustain their early equalizer against a Canadiens team that capitalized on multiple scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Sources

ESPN