The Montreal Canadiens lost 3-2 in overtime to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night, but they could have lost much more.
Goalkeeper Jake Allen left the game after making eight saves in the first period after being the victim of a violent collision with a Red Wings player. He gave way to Samuel Montembeault, who finished the game with 22 more saves in front of the CH net. Allen’s state of health is not yet known.
At the other end of the ice, Alex Nedeljkovic repelled 35 shots aimed at the Red Wings goal.
Ryan Poehling and Chris Wideman hit the target for the Canadian (4-10-2), who was trying to score a second straight victory.
Dylan Larkin, twice, and Pius Suter scored for the Red Wings (8-6-2), who had already lost 6-1 and 3-0 to CH at the Bell Center earlier this season.
The first period was the story of the Canadiens’ fourth line, made up of Poehling, Michael Pezzetta and Alex Belzile. He worked very hard during the first period and knocked on Nedeljkovic’s door several times.
Poehling was ultimately rewarded for his relentlessness, having found the back of the Red Wings net with a precise wrist shot at 4:39 of the first period. It was his first goal of the season, and his second in his last 10 NHL games.
The sky then fell on the head of the Bleu-blanc-rouge.
With less than a minute to go in the first engagement, Larkin tried to outflank Jeff Petry by rushing towards Allen. The Habs defender then gave a violent push in the back of the Red Wings striker, who ended his race by hitting the head of Allen. He then had to leave the game, being subject to the league’s concussion screening protocol.
In Allen’s absence, Montembeault started the second period in goal for the Canadiens. The Quebecer, barely warmed up, unfortunately gave in on the first two shots aimed at him – courtesy of Larkin and Suter – in an interval of 45 seconds.
The match had just changed. But the Canadian had not said his last word.
Artturi Lehkonen orchestrated a beautiful individual play that set the table for Wideman’s equalizer at 2:33 of the third period.
After entering hard against the ramp behind the Wings’ net, Lehkonen, on his knees, made a backhand pass into the pocket to Wideman. The defender of the Canadian, late alone, quickly unleashed a precise shot from twenty feet which beat Nedeljkovic over the blocker.
The game ended up in overtime, and Larkin sealed the outcome at 1:41 into extra time.
It was already the third meeting this season between the Canadian and the Red Wings. For the occasion, head coach Dominique Ducharme chose the status quo in terms of his squad compared to the last game against the Calgary Flames.
The Canadiens will complete their two-game streak in as many nights on Sunday, visiting the Bruins in Boston. It is still unclear how well Allen is, and whether he will be able to accompany his teammates to Massachusetts.