Jets and Canadiens, headed in opposite directions, face off

The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets face off Wednesday night as both clubs arrive at a key juncture in the NHL schedule.

The Canadiens extended their point streak to four games but fell 4-3 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.

Despite the loss, Montreal maintained its hold on a playoff position, still picking up a point, while sitting third in the Atlantic Division behind Tampa Bay and Detroit. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said the team is still working toward putting together a complete 60-minute performance.

"I think we're aware of when we're off a little bit," St. Louis said following the defeat in Minnesota. "You catch your breath a little bit, you didn't get hurt too bad, you're still in it and you saw some sections of our ‘A' Game... but not enough of it."

Wednesday's game marks the final contest for both teams before a three-week break as NHL players depart for Italy to compete in the Milano Cortina Olympic Games, with play resuming the last week of February for the league's final regular-season stretch.

The game carries importance for Montreal as it looks to solidify its playoff standing. The Canadiens are currently seven points ahead of the first team outside of the wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference.

"Going into this break (we need to) make sure we're getting all the points we can to come out of this thing ahead and continue to be ahead," said Montreal forward Kirby Dach. "You can't sit around. You've got to kind of put your head down and go to work."

Winnipeg's playoff outlook, meanwhile, continues to fade. The Jets, who won the Presidents' Trophy last season with the NHL's best regular-season record, have struggled to find consistency in 2025-26. Winnipeg forced overtime Monday night by tying the game with less than two minutes left before falling 4-3 to the Dallas Stars.

"That was a game that was winnable," Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. "We hung in there. That is how we have to play consistently. ... You're putting the opposition on their heels. I thought (in) the Tampa game, the Florida game, even at times with this one, we did a good job of that."

The loss capped a four-game road trip in which the Jets posted a 2-1-1 record, with wins at New Jersey and Florida and a regulation loss in Tampa Bay in between. However, the Jets were only able to grab five of a possible eight points. Entering Tuesday, they sit nine points out of a postseason spot in the Western Conference.

"We're desperate for points," said defenseman Logan Stanley. "We need to win them all. It stings. Usually you're happy with a point at the end of a road trip in a tough building like this, but it stings for sure."

Winnipeg remains short-handed on defense, with Neal Pionk, Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury not expected to return until after the Winter Games.

Montreal continues to be without Patrik Laine, who remains on injured reserve with an abdominal injury, while forward Alexandre Texier missed Monday's game with a lower-body issue.