After a more than disappointing performance against the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens showed a much better performance with a 4-3 shootout win against the New York Rangers on Saturday evening at the Bell Centre.
Cole Caufield scored the game-winner by beating Jonathan Quick on the glove side. The CH striker was the only goalscorer in the shootout.
CH fans can thank Samuel Montembeault, who had the busiest night of his career with 46 saves. At the very end of overtime, No. 35 stopped Mika Zibanejad and Jacob Trouba from point-blank range to keep his team in the game.
CH certainly didn't make it easy for themselves as they were up 3-0 midway through the second period.
Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring in the first period with his first goal in 25 games. After returning from the first break, Sean Monahan and Joel Armia flashed the red light twice in just over a minute to extend their team's lead.
However, the Rangers stepped on the accelerator to get back into the game. The trio of Alexis Lafrenière, Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin were at the heart of this comeback for the visitors.
While the final two cities brought the score to 3-2 in the second period, Adam Fox brought the two teams back to first place in the third period by beating Montembeault with a wrist shot from the blue line.
Quick stopped 28 pucks for the Rangers.
The Canadian will be back in action on Wednesday against the Flyers in Philadelphia.
SUMMARY
Barrage shots
Alexis Lafrenière: FAILED
Jesse Ylönen: FAILED
Mika Zibanejad: FAILED
Cole Caufield: GOAL
Artemi Panarin: FAILED
Nick Suzuki: FAILED
RENEWAL
05:00 – End of period.
04:48 – K'Andre Miller receives a penalty. The Canadians will play on the power play.
00:00- Start of period.
THIRD PERIOD
8:00 p.m. – End of period.
1:25 p.m. – Kaiden Guhle receives a penalty. The Rangers will play on the power play.
09:30 – TOR NYR 3-3 Adam Fox takes advantage of the traffic in front of the net to shoot. Samuel Montembeault can't do anything about it. His fourth goal of the season allowed New York to draw the game.
00:00- Start of period.
SECOND PERIOD
8:00 p.m.- End of period.
17:02 – Nick Suzuki receives a penalty. The Rangers will play on the power play.
14:29 – GOAL NYR 3-2 Vincent Trocheck wins the throw-in. Artemi Panarin takes advantage and scores his 25th goal of the season. The distance is reduced to a single goal.
10:27 – GOAL NYR 3-1 Vincent Trocheck skillfully directs Erik Gustafsson's shot into the goal. His tenth goal of the season enables New York to get into the results list.
07:38 – Chris Kreider receives a penalty. The Canadians will play on the power play.
02:39 – BUT MTL 3:0 The Canadiens added more less than two minutes later. This time Joel Armia scored the goal. Mitchell Stephens and Michael Pezzetta are accomplices. Montreal takes a three-goal lead.
01:09 – BUT MTL 2:0 The Canadians are off to a strong start. Sean Monahan shoots a shot that lands behind Jonathan Quick. His tenth goal of the season gave Montreal a two-goal lead. Jesse Ylönen gets an assist.
00:00 – Start of period.
FIRST PERIOD
8:00 p.m. – End of period.
11:37 – BUT MTL 1-0 Brendan Gallagher opens the scoring with a lively shot. It is his sixth goal of the season. David Savard and Jake Evans are accomplices. Montreal takes the lead.
07:23 – Kaiden Guhle receives a penalty. The Rangers will play on the power play.
00:00 – Start of the game.
In front of the net
Jonathan Quick Record: 9-2-1 / Goals Allowed Average: 2.41 / Efficiency Rate: 91.7%
Samuel Montembeault Record: 8-5-3 / Goals Allowed Average: 2.94 / Efficiency Rate: 90.3%
Training from trainer Martin St-Louis