(Montreal) After a poor performance earlier this week, the Canadiens players redeemed themselves even if they squandered a three-goal lead Saturday night at the Bell Center.
And the players of the Montreal club owed a debt of gratitude to goalkeeper Samuel Montembeault.
Cole Caufield was the only player to score in the shootout and the Habs won 4-3 against the New York Rangers.
Caufield beat Jonathan Quick with a low shot from the glove side. At the other end of the ice, Montembeault was perfect against the three Rangers shooters.
Montembeault made 45 saves during 65 minutes of play, four fewer than his personal best.
He was beaten only by two deflected shots and a quick play after a faceoff won by the Rangers in the offensive zone.
PHOTO ERIC BOLTE, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Sean Monahan (91) and Jesse Ylonen (56)
“I was really happy to make the last stop,” Montembeault said. From the warm-up, there was an atmosphere in the Bell Center. We would have liked to not have lost the lead, but the guys worked hard after we gave up the third goal. »
Brendan Gallagher, Sean Monahan and Joel Armia scored in regulation for the Canadian (17-17-5), who rebounded from a 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.
“I liked our reaction after their third goal and we managed to escape a penalty,” said head coach Martin St-Louis. It was a match with a lot of emotions.
“It was going well, then they came back, but we pushed to get the second point. It’s a great team victory and Montembeault was excellent. There were no passengers this evening. »
Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist for the Rangers (26-10-2). Adam Fox also scored a goal, while Quick stopped 27 shots.
Forward Emil Heineman was inserted into the Canadian’s lineup and played a third game with the team this season. He replaced defender Johnathan Kovacevic, while coach Martin St-Louis had decided to return to a conventional formation with 12 attackers and six defenders.
The Canadian will play his next game on Wednesday, when he visits the Philadelphia Flyers. He will host the San Jose Sharks the next day at the Bell Center.
Lots of action
Gallagher scored with 8:23 left in the first period. He scored his first goal since November 11 by beating Quick on the glove side.
The tenacious attacker has at the same time joined Réjean Houle at 36e rank in Canadian history with 408 points in the blue-white-red uniform.
The Canadian was the most threatening club during the first period, even if the Rangers had a 14-7 advantage in shots on goal.
Despite everything, Montembeault was alert, frustrating Panarin and Blake Wheeler in particular during a Rangers power play.
The game then got lively in the second period.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Vincent Trocheck (16) and Sam Montembeault
Monahan surprised Quick 69 seconds into the game, when his shot deflected off defender Ryan Lindgren before landing in the goal.
Armia returned to the attack 90 seconds later. He beat Quick with a long shot between the pads.
The Rangers then moved on.
Trocheck first deflected a shot from Erik Gustafsson into the back of the net at 10:28.
He then set up a goal from Panarin at 14:29, pushing the puck behind Mitchell Stephens on a faceoff before passing to his accomplice. Panarin shot on reception and Montembeault did not have time to react.
Nick Suzuki, for the Canadian, then Mika Zibanejad, for the Rangers, in turn reached the post before the end of the second period.
The Canadian had three quality chances in the first half of the third period, but neither Juraj Slafkovsky nor Armia nor Caufield hit the target.
The Rangers showed opportunism to tie the game 3-3 at 9:30. Fox’s long shot deflected against defender David Savard before ending up in the back of the net.
Jake Evans and Mike Matheson came within inches of giving the Canadian the lead late in the third period, but they both hit the post.
The NHL’s best power play unit also had a chance to give the Rangers a victory before the tiebreaker, but Montembeault closed the door.
Montembeault also made a stunning save against Alexis Lafrenière in the overtime period, prolonging the debate.
Caufield and Montembeault finally decided in a shootout.
Montembeault made his best save against Zibanejad, stretching the stick at the last moment to prevent him from scoring a Peter Forsberg-style goal.
“He beat me with the same maneuver last season,” said Montembeault. This time I managed to follow him and come back with one hand to make the save. I was happy ! »
The fans gathered at the Bell Center were too.