Red Wings move into 1st place after 4-0 victory over Canadiens

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Jan 10, 2026

Published in Hockey

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They're the first-place Detroit Red Wings again.

The Wings went into Montreal on Saturday and in a battle for first place in the Atlantic Division came away with a convincing and impressive 4-0 victory over the Canadiens.

Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin (power play) had second-period goals, and Alex DeBrincat added a third-period goal, as the Wings' best offensive players were some of their best players, as was goaltender John Gibson, who stopped 25 shots and earned his third shutout, continuing his recent hot streak, winning his 12th decision in the last 14 games.

Andrew Copp's empty-net goal ended the scoring.

The victory moved the Wings (27-15-4, 58 points) one point ahead of Tampa Bay (27-13-3, 57 points) and two ahead of Montreal (25-14-6, 56 points) in the standings.

The Wings also avenged an ugly 5-1 opening-night loss to Montreal that has become a distant memory.

Raymond opening the scoring with his 14th goal, and a goal in the third consecutive game on the quirkiest of plays. James van Riemsdyk dumped the puck into the corner, where the puck hit a seam and came straight to the front of the net. Montreal goalie Jacob Fowler went behind the net to play the puck, and was nowhere near the crease, as Raymond easily scored at 4 minutes, 52 seconds of the second period.

After the Wings killed a Montreal power play, the Wings finally converted on their fourth power-play attempt.

After Larkin won the draw, the puck got back to Moritz Seider who found DeBrincat on the flank, and DeBrincat teed up Larkin for a one-timer, Larkin's 23rd goal, at 11:43.

The Wings snuffed whatever hope the Canadiens had with DeBrincat's 23rd goal just 34 seconds into the third period.

DeBrincat was left wide open in the slot after all five Canadiens drifted to Patrick Kane with the puck near the boards, and DeBrincat snapped a shot past Fowler.

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