MontrÈal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops a Detroit Red Wings left wing James van Riemsdyk (21) shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By The Canadian Press

DeBrincat scores go-ahead goal and has two assists in Red Wings’ 3-1 victory over Canadiens

Mar 19, 2026 | 8:04 PM

DETROIT (AP) — Alex DeBrincat scored the go-ahead goal with 3:25 remaining and assisted on Detroit’s two other goals, lifting the Red Wings to a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

DeBrincat scored the winner on a backhander after stealing the puck from defenseman Mike Matheson in the Canadiens’ zone. J.T. Compher scored earlier in the period and Andrew Copp added an empty-net goal with 16.8 seconds remaining.

John Gibson made 32 saves for the Red Wings, who won for the second straight game following a three-game losing streak. Detroit recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since a three-game winning streak in mid-January.

The Red Wings also won the season series, 2-1 and pulled even with the Canadiens in the Atlantic Division standings in the tight Eastern Conference playoff race.

Juraj Slafkovsky scored the Canadiens’ goal on a second-period power play. Cole Caufield, who scored his 40th goal to beat Boston on overtime on Tuesday, assisted and Jakub Dobes made 25 saves.

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Detroit captain Dylan Larkin missed his sixth consecutive game due to a lower-body injury.

Detroit came up empty on two power-play opportunities during the second period. Montreal was awarded its second power play of the game with 2:28 left in the period when Moritz Seider was penalized for holding Jake Evans’ stick.

The Canadiens scored 13 seconds later as Slafkovsky placed a rebound of Caufield’s shot just inside the crossbar.

Detroit tied it at 2:14 of the third period. Patrick Kane took a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and bounced off Compher, who was parked at the goalpost.

Up next

Canadiens: Host New York Islanders on Saturday.

Red Wings: Host Boston on Saturday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Dana Gauruder, The Associated Press