Story Summary
Jake Evans described Montreal Canadiens‘ 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic as a “really cool experience” after playing his first NHL outdoor game before 32,342 fans at Princess Auto Stadium.
The Canadiens forward said the atmosphere was striking from the bench, although the game felt regular once he stepped on the ice. Evans also praised goaltender Jacob Fowler for looking confident in the third period of a close contest, while noting that Montreal have now won two games without captain Nick Suzuki.
Key Facts
- Jake Evans played his first NHL outdoor game as the Canadiens beat the Jets 2-1 at Princess Auto Stadium.
- The Heritage Classic crowd was announced as 32,342.
- Evans said the outdoor ice conditions were better than he expected and did not appear to affect the game greatly.
- Evans said depth perception was more difficult on pucks played off the glass or through the air.
- Jacob Fowler made key third-period saves for Montreal, according to Evans.
- Montreal have won two games without Nick Suzuki, whom Evans called the team’s top player and leader.
IHM Discussion
For Evans, the outdoor setting was memorable without becoming a distraction once the puck dropped. He said practice the previous day helped with the visual adjustments, particularly with airborne pucks and plays off the glass, and that allowed the Canadiens to settle into the familiar demands of a tight NHL game.
His assessment of Fowler also gives the result its hockey shape. Evans highlighted the goaltender’s composure in the third period, when a one-goal game still required Montreal to handle the decisive moments cleanly. The win was therefore more than an occasion-driven celebration: it was a close result completed in an unusual environment.
Why It Matters
Outdoor games offer a rare landmark in a player’s career, and Evans said this will be one of the moments he remembers when he looks back on his time in hockey. The victory also carried immediate significance for Montreal, who have won twice without Suzuki.
Evans did not suggest the Canadiens had lost belief without their captain, but he said further wins during Suzuki’s absence would help the team before his eventual return.
Mini Q&A
What was the final score at the Heritage Classic?
The Canadiens defeated the Jets 2-1.
Was this Jake Evans’ first NHL outdoor game?
Yes. Evans said it was his first NHL outdoor game.
What did Jake Evans say about the outdoor ice?
He said the ice was better than expected and did not seem to affect the game greatly, although depth perception could be difficult on pucks off the glass or in the air.
Coach Mark Comment
The detail about pucks off the glass is a proper outdoor-game reminder. A player can be enjoying the crowd and the setting, but a bouncing puck that is briefly hard to pick up still demands an instant decision. Evans said the Canadiens had practised in the rink beforehand, and that matters most in those awkward little reads rather than in the photographs or noise.
He also noticed that the game became ordinary once he was on the ice. That is a good sign for a team in a one-goal match: the occasion remained special, but it did not take the players away from the next puck.
IHM Final View
Evans leaves the Heritage Classic with both the memory of a first NHL outdoor game and the satisfaction of a 2-1 Montreal win. The visual challenges were real, but the Canadiens adapted well enough to turn a rare setting into a valuable result.