Canadiens Beat Penguins 5-4 as Anderson Scores Twice in Montreal

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in regulation at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Josh Anderson scored twice and added an assist, and Jacob Fowler made 25 saves as Montreal won its fifth straight game.

Four goals in the first eight minutes

Erik Karlsson opened the scoring at 2:08 of the first period, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Tommy Novak. Oliver Kapanen tied the game at 2:41, assisted by Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj, and Anderson put Montreal ahead 24 seconds later, assisted by Chris Kreider.

Novak tied the game 2-2 at 7:28, assisted by Rickard Rakell and Crosby. The goal completed a start of four goals in the first eight minutes, with both teams scoring twice before the game had settled.

Montreal thought it had another goal in the first period. A Cole Caufield goal was disallowed after a successful Pittsburgh challenge for goaltender interference, with Kaiden Guhle ruled to have contacted goaltender Sergei Murashov in the crease. The period ended 2-2.

Montreal pulls clear in the second period

Alexandre Texier restored the Montreal lead at 1:54 of the second period, assisted by Lane Hutson and Phillip Danault. Kreider scored 27 seconds later, at 2:21, to make it 4-2.

Pittsburgh replied quickly. Rakell scored at 3:45, set up by Karlsson, after Penguins coach Dan Muse called a timeout. The reply cut the lead to 4-3 and kept Pittsburgh close after a fast start to the period by Montreal.

Anderson scored his second goal of the night at 13:06 of the second period, assisted by Hutson and Jake Evans. A Hutson shot deflected in off Anderson, and Montreal led 5-3 after two periods. Montreal outscored Pittsburgh 3-1 in the period, and that margin held up as the difference in the game.

Pittsburgh pushes late

Crosby scored with the extra attacker at 16:49 of the third period, assisted by Karlsson, to cut the lead to 5-4. Pittsburgh pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes but could not find it, despite outshooting Montreal 29-27 in the game.

Fowler made 25 saves on 29 shots for Montreal. Murashov made 22 saves on 27 shots for Pittsburgh in his first start since October 17.

A fifth straight win without the captain

Anderson finished with two goals and an assist. Crosby finished with a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, and Karlsson also had a goal and two assists.

The win was the fifth straight for Montreal, with all five wins in the streak coming in regulation. It was also the seventh straight win for Fowler.

Montreal won again without captain Nick Suzuki, who is day to day with an upper body injury and is expected to be out until at least November 18.