Vegas Golden Knights at Montréal Canadiens

NHL game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Montréal Canadiens on Jan 28, 2026. Final score: Vegas Golden Knights 2, Montréal Canadiens 3.

StatusFinal
DateJan 28, 2026
VenueCentre Bell
Vegas Golden Knights score2
Montréal Canadiens score3

Shot charts, expected goals (xG), Game Score and advanced box scores for this game are available on Hockey Alchemy.

Three Stars by Game Score

Ranked by Game Score, which rolls goals, assists, shot quality, play-driving and penalties into one number — so the best player is chosen by the box score, not by a vote.

PlayerPosGASOGTOIxGGame Score
1stPavel DorofeyevR20819:160.811.55
2ndJake EvansC10319:230.920.90
3rdNoah DobsonD01020:410.150.89

Scoring Summary

TimeTeamGoalAssistsStrengthScore (Vegas Golden Knights–Montréal Canadiens)
1st 08:38VGKPavel Dorofeyev5v51–0
2nd 04:24MTLPhillip DanaultZachary Bolduc5v51–1
2nd 08:55MTLCole CaufieldNoah Dobson, Mike Matheson5v51–2
3rd 16:52VGKPavel DorofeyevBen Hutton, Braeden Bowman5v52–2
OT 03:58MTLJake EvansAlexandre Texier4v42–3

Team Comparison

Vegas Golden KnightsMontréal Canadiens
Goals23
Shots on goal3426
Expected goals (xG)3.933.69
High-danger shots1315
Corsi %50.0%50.0%
Power play0/30/4
Faceoff %55.0%45.0%
Hits2424
Blocks1518
Giveaways128
Takeaways45

Vegas Golden Knights Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Pavel DorofeyevR202819:160.811.55
Braeden BowmanR011115:260.240.79
Ben HuttonD011213:140.020.79
Jeremy LauzonD000120:510.030.35
Keegan KolesarR000015:130.000.30
Tomas HertlC000118:540.510.20
Kaedan KorczakD000015:400.060.10
Ivan BarbashevL000116:200.030.05
Jack EichelC000326:000.180.05
Cole ReinhardtL00005:330.000.05
Reilly SmithR000114:440.170.05
Tanner LaczynskiC00006:270.000.00
Mitch MarnerR000422:260.210.00
Rasmus AnderssonD000522:490.24-0.05
Noah HanifinD000222:220.16-0.05
Mark StoneR000423:001.07-0.10
Alexander HoltzR00005:180.07-0.15
Shea TheodoreD000124:190.14-0.20

Montréal Canadiens Skaters

PlayerPosGAPSOGTOIxGGame Score
Jake EvansC101319:230.920.90
Noah DobsonD011020:410.150.89
Alexandre TexierL011216:450.280.84
Zachary BolducR011112:120.080.79
Phillip DanaultC101315:120.090.75
Mike MathesonD011224:250.060.69
Cole CaufieldR101519:270.580.55
Kaiden GuhleD000119:420.020.40
Alexandre CarrierD000121:230.010.25
Josh AndersonR000012:340.080.15
Kirby DachC000114:050.290.10
Juraj SlafkovskýL000117:540.330.10
Lane HutsonD000225:040.080.05
Nick SuzukiC000119:170.230.05
Arber XhekajD00008:160.000.05
Brendan GallagherR000112:040.130.00
Ivan DemidovR000116:230.24-0.05
Oliver KapanenC000115:160.25-0.20

Goaltending

GoalieTeamSVSASV%GSAxDecision
Akira SchmidVegas Golden Knights232688.5%0.65O
Jakub DobesMontréal Canadiens323494.1%1.16W

Analysis

The Montréal Canadiens defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3–2 on Jan 28, 2026, a one-goal game.

Montréal Canadiens generated 3.69 expected goals to Vegas Golden Knights's 3.93 — Vegas Golden Knights owned the better of the chances but Montréal Canadiens took the game, the kind of split that usually means finishing or goaltending decided it; by expected goals it was close to a coin flip.

Pavel Dorofeyev led all skaters with a Game Score of 1.55 on 2 goals, 8 shots on goal.

Jakub Dobes stopped 32 of 34, worth 1.16 goals saved above expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Vegas Golden Knights vs Montréal Canadiens game?

The Montréal Canadiens beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3–2 on Jan 28, 2026.

What was the final score?

The final score was Montréal Canadiens 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2.

Who was the best player in this game?

By Game Score — a single-number summary of everything a skater did — Pavel Dorofeyev led all skaters at 1.55, on 2G, 0A and 8 shots on goal.

Which team deserved to win by expected goals?

Montréal Canadiens generated 3.69 expected goals and Vegas Golden Knights generated 3.93, so Vegas Golden Knights created the better chances. The scoreboard went the other way, which points to finishing or goaltending.

What were the shot totals?

Vegas Golden Knights put 34 shots on goal and Montréal Canadiens put 26. High-danger chances went 13 to 15.

How did the goaltenders play?

Akira Schmid stopped 23 of 26 (0.65 goals saved above expected); Jakub Dobes stopped 32 of 34 (1.16 goals saved above expected).