Professors' Press Box Nov. 16: Last Night in Canadian Hockey – 5 Games, 5 Stories, Lessons for Each Team

Canadian hockey fans were treated to a full spectrum of drama last night, from overtime thrillers to gut-wrenching near-misses. Across five games featuring our homegrown teams, the patterns were familiar: resilience, talent, and those tiny details that can tilt the balance between triumph and heartbreak. Here’s how the action played out, team by team, score by score.

For full game reviews for each game, follow the links provided.

Game One: Canadiens 3, Bruins 2: Montreal Played Well Enough to Win, But Didn’t

If you watched Montreal, you felt that mix of hope and frustration. The Canadiens pushed hard, generated chances, and had timely goals from Jake Evans and Cole Caufield. But five power-play chances, including two 5-on-3s, went begging. This is a team pressing, not folding, and the foundation is still there. Montembeault kept them in striking range, but the swagger to finish didn’t appear when it counted.

For the Canadiens, the power play remained the story; Caufield and Suzuki drove the even-strength game; Montembeault’s steady crease work mattered. The loss stings, but it isn’t fatal. Montreal is clawing back, just waiting for confidence — and results — to follow.

Bruins 3, Canadiens 2: A Night When the Power Play Told the Story

Game Two: Oilers 4, Hurricanes 3: Edmonton Looks Like Edmonton Again

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl reminded everyone why they carry this team. From the first shift, the Oilers’ stars refused to fold under Carolina’s pressure. Stuart Skinner quietly stole the second period, and Zach Hyman’s return added an emotional spark. When McDavid handed off to Draisaitl for the OT winner, it was pure artistry — and proof this Oilers group can still define its identity when the big dogs lead.

For the Oilers, their big stars delivered when it mattered; Skinner’s saves steadied the ship; Hyman’s comeback brought heart. The win wasn’t perfect, but it was well-earned. Edmonton rediscovered the team it knows it can be.

Oilers 4, Hurricanes 3: Edmonton Looks Like Edmonton Again

Game Three: Kings 1, Senators 0: Disciplined, Solid Game Slips Away from Ottawa

Ottawa’s effort and structure were impeccable, limiting Los Angeles to seven shots over forty minutes. But Ridly Greig’s near-miss and Anton Forsberg’s redemptive shutout against his old team showed how thin margins can be. The Senators didn’t lose their game—they lost a metaphorical coin flip. Neutral-zone struggles kept them from clean possession, and a former teammate just happened to have the night of his life.

For the Senators, the team’s defense and structure were solid. Their neutral-zone challenges stymied the attack, but it was Forsberg’s solid play that eventually sealed the Senators’ fate. Ottawa’s point streak is over, but the team’s progress is intact. If Ottawa continues to skate well, the wins will follow.

Kings 1, Senators 0: Disciplined, Solid Game Slips Away from Ottawa

Game Four: Blackhawks 3, Maple Leafs 2: Another Game Slips Through Toronto’s Fingers

Toronto held leads, generated chances, and Joseph Woll looked sharp in his season debut. Yet late mistakes and hesitation let Chicago grab the win. There were bright spots for the Maple Leafs. Specifically, Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson showed energy, and that should remind the Maple Leafs of the spark they need. Closing games remains the issue; until that changes, tight losses will keep piling up.

For the Maple Leafs, Woll stabilized the net, and Cowan and Robertson provided spark. But the team’s late-game execution faltered. Is there trouble in Toronto? Is doubt creeping in? Talent is there, effort is there, but confidence to finish must return.

Blackhawks 3, Maple Leafs 2: Another Game Slips Through Toronto’s Fingers

Game Five: Jets 4, Flames 3 (SO): A Prairie Tug-of-War Goes the Distance

Winnipeg finally steadied itself after a rough road trip, and Gabriel Vilardi delivered the shootout winner. Calgary fought with everything they had, with Matt Coronato’s late power-play goal almost changing the story. This game showed pushback from both teams, bounces, and special teams dictating the outcome — a classic prairie tug-of-war where every inch mattered.

Both teams showed resilience. The difference was that odd bounces played a significant role, and special teams decided the finale. The Jets head home with a morale-boosting win. The Flames showed fight but remain one play short.

Jets 4, Flames 3 (SO): A Prairie Tug-of-War That Went the Distance

The Bottom Line for the Canadian Teams Last Night

Across all five games, the stories were clear. Canadian teams are grinding, battling, and skating with pride. Sometimes the puck bounces the wrong way, sometimes the stars show up just when needed, and sometimes the margin between heartbreak and celebration is a hair’s breadth. For fans, it was a night that reminded us why we watch — and why we never take a single second on the ice for granted.