(Denver) The Canadian spent more than two periods under attack from the Colorado Avalanche, and he ended up breaking.
Mikko Rantanen scored after 1:51 of overtime and the Avalanche beat the Montreal club 2-1 Wednesday night at the Ball Arena.
Rantanen played the heroes seconds after an Alexandar Georgiev save against Jonathan Drouin on the breakaway.
The Avalanche had a 23-7 advantage in shots on goal in the second and third periods. However, only Artturi Lehkonen had scored, forcing the presentation of a tiebreaker.
Anthony Richard, with his first in the NHL the day after his 26e birthday, had scored early in the first period for the Canadian (15-15-3). Jake Allen stopped 34 shots.
Georgiev stopped 19 shots in net for the Avalanche (18-11-2), which won a third straight game.
The Avalanche were counting on a formation weakened by injuries. Star forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog did not participate in the game.
The Canadiens will visit the Dallas Stars on Friday before enjoying a few days off due to Christmas.
In two times
Richard quickly put the Canadian ahead in scoring, moving the ropes after 1:48 of play on a breakaway.
The rest of the first period was the affair of the Habs.
Kirby Dach and Jordan Harris took turns challenging Georgiev, who made two good saves.
Joel Armia also knocked on the door after Richard won a battle in the corner, but Georgiev made the save by stretching his right leg.
Dach returned to the charge late in the first period. This time, Georgiev was beaten, but the shot from the Habs forward hit the post.
The tide turned in the second period as the Avalanche took a 14-4 shots on goal advantage.
Allen quickly signaled himself with a spectacular save against Logan O’Connor by performing a roll on himself.
The Canadiens goaltender was also alert late in the engagement, during a power play by the home team. Allen followed a cross pass from Rantanen to JT Compher well and made the save.
The Avalanche’s efforts were finally rewarded after 2:16 of play in the third period. Lehkonen scored on the power play with a precise shot from the slot.
The Canadian fired a first shot on goal in the third period after 11:55 of play, during a power play.
It took until overtime to see Rantanen decide in favor of the Avalanche.