(Montreal) The Canadian lacked opportunism on the power play in the third period, but still left the Bell Center with two more points in the bank on Saturday evening.
Cole Caufield scored 40 seconds into overtime and the Montreal hockey club defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2.
Caufield surprised goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper with a precise shot from the side of the shield.
Canadian forward Sean Monahan scored on the power play in the first period, then set the table for Brendan Gallagher in the second period.
The Habs missed numerous opportunities to finish off their rivals in the third period, being 0-for-5 on the power play during the period.
Two goals from Dylan Strome in the final period allowed the Capitals to force a tiebreaker.
Nick Suzuki had two assists for the Canadian (2-1-1). Jake Allen made 30 saves.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen (34) makes a save against Connor McMichael (24) of the Washington Capitals.
Kuemper stopped 24 shots in front of the Capitals net (1-2-1).
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin fired five shots on goal and had an assist. Ovechkin thus ended the first series of two games without a shot on goal of his prolific career.
Defender Justin Barron was inserted into the Canadian’s lineup for the first time this season. Barron was replacing Kaiden Guhle, who suffered an upper-body injury during the Habs’ 5-2 loss Tuesday to the Minnesota Wild.
The Canadian will play his next game on Monday, when he visits the Buffalo Sabres. It will then host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday at the Bell Center.
A hot fight
Michael Pezzetta got the first good scoring opportunity for the Habs. He beat Kuemper, but his throw hit the post.
At the other end of the ice, Allen frustrated Anthony Mantha following a pass from Ovechkin during a two-on-one attack by the Capitals.
Monahan scored with 1:05 left in the first period, on the power play. He deflected a Suzuki delivery into the goal.
A few minutes after receiving his third penalty of the game, the Canadian widened the gap to 2-0 at 9:50 of the second period. Monahan overwhelmed defenseman Hardy Haman Aktell, who was playing his first NHL game, then Gallagher completed the maneuver by beating Kuemper.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Brendan Gallagher (11) of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal in front of Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard threatened the Capitals’ net three times in the second period, but each time he missed the target.
For his part, veteran Nicklas Backstrom came up against an acrobatic Allen late in the engagement, following a delivery from Ovechkin.
Shortly after Sonny Milano hit the crossbar in the third period, the Capitals’ indiscipline opened the door for the Habs. However, the Canadian was unable to take advantage of two five-on-three sequences.
Strome finally got the Capitals going again with 8:35 left. He reduced the gap to 2-1 following a cross pass from Ovechkin.
The Capitals continued to work hard until Strome came back with 2:00 left on the clock. This time he beat Allen following a pass from Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Caufield, however, allowed fans to go home with a light heart.