(Las Vegas) Despite a commendable effort, the Montreal Canadiens were unable to defeat the best team in the NHL.
Goaltender Adin Hill stopped 37 pucks, defenseman Shea Theodore scored the goal that made the difference in the shootout and the Vegas Golden Knights won 3-2 on Monday.
Canadian captain Nick Suzuki, like Quebecer Jonathan Marchessault, also hit the target during the shootout session. Looking to tie the game after Theodore’s net, Alex Newhook hit the post.
Suzuki forced an extra period by scoring his second goal of the campaign with less than five minutes remaining in the third period.
The Habs had won their two previous meetings and obtained at least a point in a third consecutive match. The Golden Knights have yet to lose in regulation this season, winning their ninth game in 10 outings.
Often dominated this season in terms of shots on goal, the Habs were this time able to limit their opponents’ chances of scoring. He had a 39-26 advantage against the defending Stanley Cup champions.
The Golden Knights nevertheless opened the scoring on the power play at the end of the first period. Paul Cotter made a shot from the bottom of the faceoff circle to the left of Samuel Montembeault that was partially blocked by Mike Matheson. The puck, however, continued its path into the cage.
Forward William Karlsson collected an assist, putting his name on the scoresheet in a seventh straight game. The Knights’ record is nine. It is jointly owned by Alex Tuch (2018-19), Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty (2021-22).
The Canadian took advantage of a mistake from Hill to tie the score with a man less. The goalie came out of his semi-circle to recover a puck, but he missed a pass in the slot that Sean Monahan intercepted.
PHOTO IAN MAULE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sean Monahan (91) and goalie Adin Hill (33)
The Bleu-Blanc-Rouge center patiently waited for the masked man to compromise to place the puck in an empty cage.
It was Monahan’s third straight game with a goal. He has five this season, all occurring on special teams: three on the power play and two on the penalty kill.
The former Calgary Flames joins a group of five players with more than one goal this season short of one man, with Logan O’Connor (three), Sean Walker (two), Travis Konecny (two) and Jaccob Slavin (two).
Against the Montreal metropolitan club, Quebecer William Carrier scored the second goal for the local favorites with 1:50 to play in the second by making only the second shot for his team during the period. He only had to redirect a clever backhand pass from Chandler Stevenson behind Montembeault.
Carrier thus scored in a second straight game for the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
Montembeault made 24 saves, including a penalty shot awarded to Jack Eichel in overtime.
Matheson was a doubtful case for this match, in which he ultimately participated. The veteran Quebec defenseman suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
This game against the Golden Knights was the first of three on the road against Western Conference teams for the Habs. He will visit the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, then the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.
The team of head coach Martin St-Louis will then quickly return to the Golden Knights, who will be visiting the Bell Center on November 16.