Some records are never meant to be broken.
Or in some cases, it’s hard to imagine they ever could be.
Entering Tuesday, NHL teams were 0-9652-0 all-time when trailing by four or more goals in the final three minutes of regulation.
Then the Winnipeg Jets did something that has never been done before.
Staring down a 10th straight loss on the road against the streaking Montreal Canadiens, the Jets scored four goals in the final two minutes and 39 seconds of regulation to force overtime at the Bell Centre.
Kyle Connor scored twice in the final minute of the third.
Dylan Samberg finished it with the overtime winner.
Winnipeg could be found as long as +7600 to win that game live at FanDuel.
For perspective, 18 NHL teams are shorter than +7600 to win the Stanley Cup at FanDuel this morning.
While the Jets are still among the top five choices to finish with the NHL’s worst record at FanDuel, the Habs are considered a legitimate playoff contender that must pick up the pieces and regroup after an epic collapse.
Cole Caufield admitted to reporters that “guys thought the game was over” and “there’s no excuse for this”.
It’s one thing for an NHL team with a lead to let up a bit, but what transpired in Montreal was something different.
The most concerning part was how little help Jacob Fowler received after shining for 57 minutes.
The 21-year-old rookie goaltender made 42 saves including several highlight-reel stops and was three minutes away from securing his third shutout in nine starts this season.
The fact that the players in front of him didn’t step up and make sure Fowler got to the finish line is a problem.
Now the focus shifts from a potential shutout and eighth straight win to how the Habs will respond to the collapse.
Fowler had won seven straight starts and allowed one or fewer goals in three of his previous four games.
Will his confidence be the same moving forward?
Montreal will host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday.
The Canadiens visit the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
Fortunately, captain Nick Suzuki should return soon, while Ivan Demidov continues to work his way back.
The Canadiens are -205 to make the playoffs at FanDuel.
That number represents a 67.2 per cent implied chance.
The hope in Montreal is that the historic collapse will serve as a lasting lesson for a young roster that will ultimately benefit from it in the long run.
The alternative option isn’t nearly as optimistic.
The margin for error is thin in a crowded Atlantic Division.
Let’s go back to the futures and take a closer look at the FanDuel odds for the Atlantic in this Morning Coffee column for Wednesday November 4th, 2026.
How Will Habs Respond After An Epic Collapse In Crowded Atlantic?
The Florida Panthers entered the season as the obvious favourite to win the Atlantic Division at FanDuel.
A 2-2-2 start combined with Aleksander Barkov’s injury tempered expectations, but the Panthers responded with a 6-3-0 run that has them in the thick of the playoff race.
The bigger surprise is the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins had the longest odds to make the playoffs of any Eastern Conference team at FanDuel.
Fast-forward one month later, Boston owns the best record in the Atlantic Division at 11-4-1.
Their odds to make the playoffs have flipped from +300 to -170 at FanDuel.
The NHL season is a marathon, and the Bruins still have a long way to go to reach the postseason.
That’s not the point.
Seven of the eight Atlantic Division teams were even-money or better to make the playoffs at FanDuel when the season started and Boston wasn’t among them.
The Bruins hot start has made a loaded Atlantic Division that much more crowded at the top.
While Boston’s odds to win the Atlantic were cut from +3300 to +700 at FanDuel, it’s the Tampa Bay Lightning that have emerged as the favourite to win the division.
Tampa Bay is 9-3-2 including a perfect 7-0-0 at home.
The Lightning to win the Atlantic has been cut from +280 to +160 at FanDuel.
Nikita Kucherov’s trade request has dominated the conversation, but GM Julien BriseBois has made it clear he does not intend to trade his superstar winger.
Over the past 48 hours, I’ve had several people reach out and ask me what I thought about the Canadiens being among the favourites to land Kucherov in a trade.
The reality is that the Habs have been and will continue to be among the top choices in most trade destination markets until they complete the blockbuster deal fans in Montreal have anticipated could happen for months.
It’s easy to point to the Canadiens assets, projected cap space, and the potential connection with Martin St. Louis to make the case for the Habs as a likely destination.
However, there’s nothing concrete that indicates any Kucherov trade is imminent at this point.
Tampa Bay is the favourite to win the Atlantic at +160, followed by Florida at +340 and Montreal at +600.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has been linked to several potential trades in recent months, and it seems inevitable that he will eventually find the right fit to make a deal.
Until then, the Habs are focused on what it takes to compete in a loaded division that could send five teams to the playoffs.
The Bruins have gone from the loaded odds to make the playoffs to the fourth-most likely Atlantic contender behind Tampa Bay, Florida, and Montreal.
The Ottawa Senators have gone from -104 to -146 to make the playoffs following a 9-6-1 record that has them sitting in a Wild Card spot this morning.
The Buffalo Sabres are two points back of Florida and one point back of Ottawa, but their odds to make the playoffs have ticked from -122 to -132 since the start of the year.
Meanwhile, the market is down on the Maple Leafs, which have gone from -118 to +158 to make the playoffs.
With a maximum of five potential playoff teams, I’d bet on Florida, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Boston, and Ottawa.
Is there value betting on the Habs to win the Atlantic?
Perhaps, but that wager still comes with some risk, and there’s no urgency to jump on it with the Canadiens at an important early season crossroads after last night’s loss.
All eyes will be on Montreal when they host the Mammoth on Thursday night.
Let’s see how they respond with a chance to secure a statement win on home ice before Saturday’s Original Six showdown with the rival Maple Leafs.
Have a great day, everyone!