NHL 26 predicts Canadiens shutout loss to Detroit

Montreal Canadiens fans might be in for a letdown on Thursday night.

According to the NHL 26 simulation, the Detroit Red Wings are projected to open their 2025–26 campaign with a decisive 3–0 shutout over Montreal at Little Caesars Arena.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård recorded his first NHL goal, while Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond also found the back of the net. Patrick Kane, Travis Hamonic, Ben Chiarot, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher, and Marco Kasper each tallied an assist.

John Gibson turned in a stellar debut for Detroit, stopping all 38 shots he faced to secure the shutout. Sam Montembeault made 31 saves for Montreal.

The Canadiens outshot Detroit but couldn’t solve Gibson, who combined sharp positioning with timely athleticism. It wasn’t for a lack of effort—Montreal pressed relentlessly—but the post went untouched and the scoreboard remained barren.

First Period

Juraj Slafkovsky generated the game’s first quality scoring chance, forcing a turnover in close and testing Gibson, who held firm.

Ben Chiarot went to the penalty box for holding in an amusing twist, as the simulation actually showed him being held moments earlier. Montreal failed to convert on the ensuing power play.

The Canadiens dominated puck possession early, outshooting Detroit 11–2 by the eight-minute mark. Gibson, however, was immaculate—flashing the glove, dropping into a sharp butterfly, and making sprawling stick saves to keep the game scoreless.

A holding penalty on Lane Hutson sent Detroit to the power play with just over seven minutes left. That moment shifted the momentum. The shot totals quickly evened out, and Montreal lost Alex Newhook to injury after he blocked a shot with his foot.

Kirby Dach tried to swing momentum back with a thunderous hit on Albert Johansson off a draw—a borderline penalty that went uncalled.

Detroit eventually struck late in the frame. Montembeault stopped a Compher wrist shot but misplayed the clearing attempt, sending the puck straight to Brandsegg-Nygård. The rookie wasted no time, wiring a wrister over Montembeault’s glove for his first NHL goal, giving the Red Wings a 1–0 lead heading into the intermission.

Second Period

Noah Dobson opened the period with a booming slap shot, but Detroit’s Emmitt Finnie made a spectacular diving block to keep the puck out. Montreal continued to pile on pressure, but Gibson remained flawless, stymieing every look.

The Canadiens leaned into their physical game—Arber Xhekaj crushed Dylan Larkin into the boards—but Detroit refused to break.

Montreal’s defence tightened as the period went on, disrupting attempts by DeBrincat and Patrick Kane in the offensive zone. With seven minutes left, Moritz Seider’s turnover gifted Zachary Bolduc a prime chance, but Gibson bailed out his teammate with a composed glove save.

The period ended with Montreal still trailing 1–0, despite holding a 29–23 edge in shots.

Third Period

Montembeault made a highlight-reel glove stop on Chiarot’s one-timer to start the period, briefly keeping the game within reach.

Moments later, DeBrincat extended Detroit’s lead. Kasper threaded a pass into the slot, and DeBrincat hammered it five-hole to make it 2–0.

Montreal’s best chance came when Ivan Demidov intercepted a pass and broke free, but Gibson stoned him with a clinical blocker save to preserve the shutout.

Lucas Raymond then delivered the dagger. On a slick rush, Larkin sliced through two defenders and sent a deflected feed to Raymond, who battled past Bolduc, corralled the puck, and rifled a wrister over Montembeault’s glove to make it 3–0.

Takeaways

This was less about Montreal playing poorly and more about Gibson stealing the show. The Canadiens controlled large stretches but couldn’t find a way through.

What’s Next

The Canadiens face the Red Wings for real on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. local time.