(Ottawa) Cole Caufield scored his second goal of the game on the power play and the Montreal Canadiens led 3-2 against the Ottawa Senators after two periods of play, Saturday evening at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Caufield shattered his career high by hitting the target with 6:55 left in the second period. He scored his 27e goal of the season thanks to a precise shot in the upper corner from the shield side of goalkeeper Joonas Korpisalo.
The 23-year-old American gave the Canadian a 2-1 lead 1:37 into the second period. He took advantage of a comeback after a point shot from Jayden Struble.
Shane Pinto tied the game 2-2 at 8:36 on the power play. Claude Giroux joined him in the slot and scored on a one-timer.
The Canadian opened the scoring after 9:11 of play in the first period. Mike Matheson had thwarted Korpisalo thanks to a nice feint during a shorthanded breakaway.
Brady Tkachuk responded with 6:52 left in the first period. He deflected a shot from the blue line by Jake Sanderson and scored on his own return.
The Canadiens’ head coach, Martin St-Louis, contested the goal, believing that Tkachuk had obstructed goaltender Cayden Primeau. NHL video officials did not agree with St. Louis.
The Senators lost forward Mark Kastelic early in the first period. He was hit in the side of the head by a shot from Johnathan Kovacevic.
Primeau stopped 19 shots in the first two periods. For his part, Korpisalo made 13 saves.
Forward Jesse Ylönen was back in the Canadian lineup after being left out of the previous four games. Tanner Pearson gave way to him.
The Canadian will play his last two games of the season against the Red Wings, Monday in Detroit and Tuesday in Montreal.
After signing his rookie contract with the Canadian on Friday, defender Lane Hutson will join his new teammates on Sunday in Detroit.