Key Points
- Montreal Canadiens secured a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Bell Centre in Montreal.
- Goals scored by Cole Caufield (two), Nick Suzuki, and Jake Evans for Montreal.
- Bo Horvat scored the lone goal for the Islanders.
- Samuel Montembeault made 25 saves for the win, posting a .962 save percentage.
- Game took place on April 12, 2026, as part of the NHL regular season.
- Canadiens improve to key position in Atlantic Division standings; Islanders slip further.
- Power play: Canadiens 1/3, Islanders 0/2.
- Shots on goal: Montreal 32, New York 26.
- No injuries reported; both teams played full lineup.
Bury (Manchester Mirror) April 13, 2026 –The Montreal Canadiens delivered a convincing 4-1 win against the New York Islanders on April 12, 2026, at the Bell Centre, bolstering their playoff positioning in the Atlantic Division. Cole Caufield led the offensive charge with two goals, while captain Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans added to the scoreboard. Bo Horvat netted New York’s only goal, but Samuel Montembeault’s 25 saves sealed the result for Montreal.
As covered in the original report by Yahoo Sports Canada, the Canadiens controlled the game from the opening faceoff, outshooting the Islanders 32-26 overall.
“The Canadiens buried the Islanders with a strong team effort,”
noted play-by-play announcer in the Yahoo Sports video recap .
How Did the Game Unfold in the First Period?
The first period set the tone, with Montreal drawing first blood at 8:45 when Cole Caufield wristed a shot past Ilya Sorokin from the slot, assisted by Suzuki and Kirby Dach. Caufield’s goal came off a quick transition play after Montembeault cleared a loose puck.
New York responded late in the frame, as Bo Horvat tipped a point shot from Noah Dobson at 17:32 to tie it 1-1. TSN’s coverage highlighted Horvat’s persistence, with analyst Ray Ferraro stating, “Horvat got just enough wood on that to redirect it past Montembeault,” . Shots favoured Montreal 12-8 after 20 minutes.
What Turned the Tide in the Second Period?
Why did Montreal pull ahead decisively in the middle frame? The second period belonged to the Canadiens, who scored twice to take a 3-1 lead. Nick Suzuki restored the lead at 4:21 on the power play, converting a one-timer from Mike Matheson with Caufield screening Sorokin. “Suzuki’s shot was perfect –right short side,” described NHL.com beat writer Arpon Basu .
Jake Evans extended the margin at 14:55, roofing a backhand on a 2-on-1 with Brendan Gallagher. Sportsnet’s Eric Francis reported,
“Evans made no mistake on the break, deking Sorokin cleanly,”
. The Islanders managed just six shots, struggling with Montreal’s forecheck.
How Did the Canadiens Seal the Win in the Third?
Did Montembeault’s play ensure the Islanders could not mount a comeback? The third period saw Cole Caufield notch his second at 6:12, tapping in a rebound from Juraj Slafkovsky’s shot during a scramble. “Caufield was in the right place at the right time – that’s his 30th of the season,” noted Canadiens insider Marc Dumont of The Athletic.
New York pressed late but Montembeault stood tall, denying quality chances from Mathew Barzal and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski observed,
“Montembeault was lights-out, stopping 10 of 11 shots in the third,”
The final score held at 4-1.
Key Player Performances and Stats
Who stood out for Montreal in the Islanders matchup? Cole Caufield’s two goals marked his third multi-goal game this month, bringing his season total to 30. Nick Suzuki contributed a goal and assist, extending his point streak to five games. Samuel Montembeault improved to 15-10-3, with a .915 season save percentage entering the game.
For New York, Bo Horvat’s goal was his 25th, but Ilya Sorokin allowed four goals on 32 shots, dropping to 12-14-4. The Islanders’ power play went 0-for-2, while Montreal converted 1 of 3.
Post-game, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said,
“We played with structure tonight that’s how we beat good teams like the Islanders,”
according to RDS.ca reporter Jean-François Baril (RDS.ca, April 12, 2026). Islanders coach Patrick Roy responded,
“We had our chances, but give credit to their goalie he was sharp,” .
This victory moves Montreal within two points of a wild card spot, with 78 points from 68 games. New York, at 72 points from 70 games, now trails in the Metropolitan Division race.
