John Gibson struggles in Detroit debut as Canadiens drub Wings

Field Level Media|published: Thu 9th October, 23:02 2025

Oct 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Montréal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson (77) battle for the puck in the first period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Mike Matheson scored a goal and added an assist as the visiting Montreal Canadiens spoiled the Detroit Red Wings' season opener with a 5-1 victory on Thursday night.

Zack Bolduc, Oliver Kapanen, Alexandre Carrier and Juraj Slafkovsky registered the other Montreal goals. The Canadiens quickly recovered from a 5-2 season-opening loss to the Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Jakub Dobes, who sat behind starter Sam Montembeault in Toronto, made 30 saves, while Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher supplied two assists apiece.

Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit.

Goaltender John Gibson endured a disastrous Red Wings debut. He was removed with 2:48 remaining in the second period after allowing Slafkovsky's power-play goal that made the score 5-1. Detroit acquired Gibson, who was replaced by Cam Talbot, from the Anaheim Ducks during the offseason.

Gibson stopped just eight shots. Talbot turned aside all four shots he faced the rest of the way.

Montreal led 3-1 after the first period.

The Red Wings took the lead less than four minutes into the contest on their first power play. Patrick Kane passed the puck from behind the Canadiens' net. Alex DeBrincat whiffed on a shot attempt in front, but the puck wound up on the stick of Larkin, who scored from the right circle.

Defensive breakdowns by Detroit helped Montreal recover quickly. Bolduc scored on a breakaway off a feed from Gallagher at 10:14. Matheson contributed the second assist.

Just 2:29 later, the visitors took the lead on a two-on-one break with Kapanen converting in front off an Alex Newhook pass.

Matheson scored with 6.7 seconds remaining in the period. He lifted a shot from the left side that beat Gibson on the glove side. Suzuki and Noah Dotson had the assists.

Shortly after Detroit's Alex DeBrincat hit the post, Carrier scored on a shot from the point 5:19 into the second period. Arber Xhekaj and Gallagher picked up the assists.

Slafkovsky made it 5-1 when he converted a rebound with Moritz Seider in the penalty box for tripping. Cole Caufield and Suzuki collected the assists.

The Canadiens close out a three-game road trip in Chicago on Saturday, while the Red Wings host Toronto the same night.

--Field Level Media

Latest