(Montreal) Kaiden Guhle made his presence felt in his return to play and he helped the Canadian overcome a 3-1 deficit in a second straight game before winning.
Nick Suzuki was the only one to make the red light shine in the shootout and the Montreal hockey club defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 on Saturday evening at the Bell Centre.
Suzuki beat goalkeeper Laurent Brossoit with a nice feint and a backhand shot. At the other end of the ice, Jake Allen was perfect against the Jets’ three shooters.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Nick Suzuki (14)
“I think one of the big reasons is our fans, who give us confidence, energy,” said coach Martin St-Louis about his team’s ability to come from behind. The guys are proud to play here at the Bell Centre. It’s a group that loves each other, a group that wants to go to war together. »
Guhle was back in the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. He collected two assists, including one on the equalizing goal of Joel Armia, who was participating in his first match with the big club this season.
The 21-year-old Alberta defender was employed for 25:08 and blocked a dangerous shot when the Habs were shorthanded late in the third period.
“It seems like he’s always in the right place at the right time,” St-Louis said of Guhle. He played an excellent match. »
Guhle’s play was all the more important as the Canadian lost the services of Mike Matheson. The 29-year-old Montrealer did not play in the third period. The team indicated that he suffered a lower body injury and that his condition will be re-evaluated on a daily basis.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Kaiden Guhle (21) and Brenden Dillon (5)
Justin Barron and Sean Monahan also scored in regulation for the Canadian (5-2-1), who has won four of his last five games, including three in tiebreakers. Allen stopped 42 shots.
“He’s been a real brick wall his last three outings,” Guhle said of Allen. He deserves a lot of the credit. He made big saves in important moments. I hope he continues like this, but I also wish him better help from us! »
Adam Lowry scored twice, while Nino Niederreiter had a goal and an assist for the Jets (4-3-1). Mason Appleton had two assists and Brossoit made 26 saves.
Gustav Lindström and Jesse Ylönen were left out of St-Louis to make room for Guhle and Armia in his training.
The Canadian will play his next game on Monday, when he visits the Vegas Golden Knights.
The story repeats itself
Lowry opened the scoring at 4:28 of the first period, on a penalty shot. The Jets captain caught Allen between the pads.
Barron tied the game 37 seconds later. He received a pass from Rafael Harvey-Pinard in the slot, then beat Brossoit under the right arm.
The Jets threatened late in the first period, but Allen was vigilant in stopping the puck after it deflected off Guhle.
Allen, however, was powerless on the Jets’ first two shots in the second period.
Lowry first scored after 15 seconds of play. He wrong-footed Allen after a pass from Niederreiter behind the net.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Brendan Gallagher (11)
Niederreiter then beat Allen with a backhand 18 seconds later, following a pass from Mason Appleton from behind the net.
Monahan cut the lead to 3-2 8:23 into the second period, during a power play. He accepted a pass from Suzuki in front of the net, then returned to his right to beat Brossoit with a backhand.
The Canadian continued to knock on the door, but came up against Brossoit. Brendan Gallagher and Jordan Harris wasted chances on the same sequence, each time after passes from Monahan.
Armia tied the game 3-3 1:54 into the third period, and moments after Harvey-Pinard hit the post shorthanded. Guhle joined Armia in a three-on-two attack and the Finn beat Brossoit between the pads.
Allen kept the Canadian in the game by frustrating Rasmus Kupari, who had escaped.
Cole Caufield had the best chance to score late in overtime, but missed the target with an open net in front of him.
Suzuki finally decided in a shootout.