2026 NHL Heritage Classic in Winnipeg

The 2026 NHL Heritage Classic concluded at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg with a 2-1 victory for the Montreal Canadiens over the Winnipeg Jets.

Montreal’s offense was driven by second-period goals from defensemen Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle, supported by two assists from Cole Caufield. The Jets’ lone goal was scored by Isak Rosen late in the third period. Rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler recorded 34 saves during the contest, making him the “youngest goaltender in NHL history to start an outdoor game.” The game also marked the return of Montreal forward Florian Xhekaj from injured reserve.

The result leaves the Montreal Canadiens with a 6-3-2 record for the season. For the Winnipeg Jets, the loss extends a winless streak to five games as the team continues to navigate a roster transition following the trade of star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils. That blockbuster deal included assets such as Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, and Alexander Corbet in exchange for the veteran goalie. Following the game, Winnipeg players expressed relief that the “period of uncertainty regarding Hellebuyck’s departure has concluded,” allowing the team to focus on future matchups.

The game was played before a sellout crowd of over 32,000 fans, marking the Jets’ second outdoor game hosted in Canada. This matchup represented the 46th outdoor game in NHL history and the 10th hosted in Canada. Following the performance, Fowler earned his fifth consecutive win.