Canadiens hold off the Jets 2-1 outdoors in the NHL Heritage Classic

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jacob Fowler made 33 saves and the Montreal Canadiens held off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 on Sunday night in the NHL Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium.

Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle scored and Cole Caufield had two assists to help Montreal improve to 6-3-2. The Canadiens opened a four-game trip Friday night with a 4-1 victory over Chicago. Fowler has won his last five starts.

Isak Rosen scored for Winnipeg with 4:46 remaining at home of the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots for the Jets (4-4-3).

The Jets became just the second Canadian team after Edmonton to host two outdoor games. The Jets also were blanked 3-0 by the Oilers in the first one, but spoiled Calgary’s 2019 outdoor game at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, with a 2-1 overtime win.

It was Winnipeg’s first game since trading franchise goalier Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Dawson Mercer, who headlined the return from the Devils, had two shots and one blocked shot in 15:22 of ice time.

Canadiens: At St. Louis on Tuesday night.

Jets: Host Florida on Tuesday night.

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Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) celebratesafter his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Mike Matheson (8), Cole Caufield (13) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period of the NHL Heritage Classic hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens play during the first period of the NHL Heritage Classic hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

The Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens play during the first period of NHL Heritage Classic hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle, center, celebrates after his goal against the Winnipeg Jets with Mike Matheson (8) and Cole Caufield (13) during the second period of the NHL Heritage Classic hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

A Canadian flag is unfurled at Princess Auto Stadium before the NHL Heritage Classic hockey game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Montreal Canadiens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder was taken off the court on a stretcher Sunday night, after suffering what a serious injury to his lower left leg while getting fouled in a scene that moved some of his teammates to the brink of tears.

He was injured while being fouled on a drive with 1:14 remaining of Oklahoma City's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, getting tended to almost immediately by medical personnel after going down underneath the basket on the Thunder's offensive end.

Williams' ankle was draped by towels and players from both teams acted in immediate dismay as the stretcher was brought out. The game was stopped for about five minutes, and the Thunder went on to finish a 108-101 victory.

“Just feel bad for him,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said in a postgame televised interview, fighting back tears as he spoke. “Nothing more than that.”

There was no immediate diagnosis from the Thunder, though it was obvious that the injury was severe — and the stretcher was called for within just a few seconds of the play ending. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault said the team would be briefed Monday morning with the latest updates on Williams' condition.

“We're not doing great,” Daigneault said.

Williams — a shooting guard who entered Sunday having averaged 18 points per game in his first 250 NBA contests — has been an All-Star and an All-NBA player already in his career, plus was a huge part of the Thunder team that won the 2025 NBA title. He missed 49 games last season with an array of issues, mostly hamstring problems and recovery from a significant surgery on his right wrist.

“He just loves playing, loves the competition,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That's who he is. ... It's unfortunate, his luck so far. But he's equipped for it.”

The Thunder play again Monday night at home against Phoenix. The schedule gives Oklahoma City little choice but to try and move on somewhat quickly, Daigneault said.

“We don’t have a choice,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s what we signed up for. It’s obviously going to be tough without a player like that. He’s not gone forever. He’ll be back better than ever. We know it. We’ve just got to hold the fort down until he comes back.”

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams (8) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams, right, drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Keaton Wagler, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is attended to by medical staff during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is taken off the court by medical staff during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)