(Newark) The Canadian shot himself in the foot once again on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center, but he found a way to win.
Cole Caufield broke the tie with 4:31 left in the third period and the Montreal hockey club triumphed 3-2 against the New Jersey Devils.
The Habs seemed well in control of the game until the Devils scored twice early in the third period during a double minor penalty for high sticking against Nick Suzuki.
“I liked our response afterwards,” said Canadian head coach Martin St-Louis. They made it 2-2 and they had the wind in their sails and the crowd behind them. But we had good line presences in the offensive zone. We applied pressure and went for a big goal. »
On the winning goal, goalie Nico Daws was unable to control a slap shot from Jordan Harris. Sean Monahan then headed the return towards Caufield, who only had to push into a gaping cage.
“It’s not easy when you start the period shorthanded for more than three minutes,” Caufield said. But it happens. We knew the scenario that happened could happen. We have not given up.
“We can’t say we played our best game, but we found a way to win and that’s something important in this league,” he added.
The other goals for the Canadian (19-18-7) were scored by Juraj Slafkovsky and Joshua Roy — a first career NHL goal for the St-Georges-de-Beauce native.
Roy had a strong game alongside Monahan and Joel Armia. He took five shots on goal and was often threatening.
“A young player arriving in the NHL will need a little time to find his bearings. It was his third game and it was his best, St-Louis said. And I’m not saying that because he counted. He had some good touches. He goes to the right place on the ice and reads the play well.”
In front of the net, Samuel Montembeault was once again brilliant. He stopped 28 shots, including several at close range.
Caufield and Monahan finished the game with two points each.
Luke Hughes and Alexander Holtz scored for the Devils (22-17-3). Daws made 22 saves.
Defender Justin Barron was back in the Canadian lineup. Johnathan Kovacevic was left out.
After being unable to finish Monday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, forward Jesse Ylönen was at his post.
The Canadian will be back in action on Thursday evening, when he visits the Ottawa Senators.
Everything was going so well
Roy got his first chance to score when Daws allowed a rebound in the slot after stopping Barron’s attempt by going around the net.
Michael Pezzetta came close to opening the scoring around mid-period. However, he deflected a Harris shot against the post.
Montembeault stood out for the first time by frustrating Tyler Toffoli and Timo Meier in turn, then the Canadian opened the scoring a few moments later, at 12:48.
Caufield stole the puck from a rival behind the Devils net, then sent it towards the slot, hitting it on the fly. Slafkovsky was passing by and he beat Daws.
The Devils goalie frustrated Roy again during the first period, this time when the Quebec striker appeared alone in front of him.
The Devils threatened on the power play early in the second period. Montembeault stopped point-blank shots from Holtz twice in quick succession.
Montembeault then frustrated Erik Haula on a breakaway.
Roy widened the gap with 5:15 left in the second period. He hit the mark during a two-on-one attack in which Monahan showed patience before passing to his teammate.
“You’ve dreamed of playing in the NHL since childhood. To be there and score a first goal, it’s incredible,” said Roy, who is 20 years old.
Michael McLeod finally managed to beat Montembeault late in the second period. He took down David Savard in quick succession and then the Quebec goalie, but he then missed the target by trying to slide the puck into the opening with his backhand.
The penalty against Suzuki late in the second period finally opened the door for the Devils.
Hughes first struck 47 seconds into the game when he took advantage of a screen to beat Montembeault with a long shot. Suzuki was still in the penalty box when Holtz tied the game at 1:38 with a powerful one-timer.
The Canadian was able to bounce back after a slight drop in performance. Daws made another good save at the expense of Roy, in addition to stopping a point-blank shot from Slafkovsky which was however not very clear.
Caufield finally gave the Habs the lead again, then Montembeault took care of the rest.