(San José) The Canadian had to work hard to overcome the worst team in the NHL.
Jesse Ylönen moved the strings in the sixth round of shootouts and the Montreal team defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on Friday afternoon at the SAP Center.
The Canadian erased a two-goal deficit to force a tiebreaker.
Ylönen then ended the game by showing patience and making a nice feint to beat goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood.
After a long timeout in the first period, the Sharks offered good opposition to the Habs. They also had the advantage in shots on goal for the first time this season.
Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist, while Johnathan Kovacevic also scored for the Canadian (9-9-2). Cayden Primeau stopped 31 shots.
The Canadian is guaranteed to end his stay in California with a winning record for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
William Eklund had a goal and an assist and Mike Hoffman also scored for the Sharks (3-15-2). Blackwood made 22 saves.
The Canadian will end his stay in California by facing the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon. He will then visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, before returning to Montreal to host the Florida Panthers at the Bell Center on Thursday.
During the game on Friday, the Canadian recalled forward Joel Armia from the Laval Rocket. He will be available for Saturday’s game against the Kings.
In sequences
The Sharks had the first scoring opportunity, but Primeau frustrated Luke Kunin in a two-on-one attack.
The Canadian fired nine shots on goal in a row, but Blackwood stood like a wall in front of the Sharks net. He notably made good saves against Christian Dvorak and Caufield.
The Sharks finally attacked the Canadian’s net again when Kunin got another two-on-one chance. Once again, Primeau made the save.
The home team took the last eight shots on goal in the first period. Primeau held down the fort for the Habs, stopping six shots among other things while the Sharks took advantage of a numerical advantage.
The Sharks finally opened the scoring at 5:06 of the second period. Hoffman was forgotten in the slot and he beat Primeau with a one-timer following a pass from Eklund coming from behind the net.
The trio of Dvorak, Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky had another good sequence in the opposing zone a few minutes later, but Blackwood remained uncompromising.
The Sharks doubled their lead at 12:30, on the power play. Eklund beat Primeau with a one-timer from the faceoff circle to the goalie’s left.
Kovacevic finally put the Canadian on the scoreboard with 1:58 left in the second period. He surprised Blackwood with a precise shot from the side of the shield.
On the streak, Jayden Struble collected a first career point in the NHL and Caufield, a 100e.
Caufield quickly added a 101e point. He tied the game 2-2 3:26 into the third period, when he beat Blackwood on the shield side in a two-on-one attack.
The tie lasted until the shootout. Blackwood prolonged the debate by frustrating Caufield on a breakaway early in overtime.