(Montreal) A slight drop in performance in the second period sank the Canadian in a second game in a row.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs scored four goals in a span of 5:33 against Samuel Montembeault in the second period and defeated the Montreal team 4-2 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
Montembeault was not the only one responsible for the Habs’ misfortunes during this push by the visitors. The Maple Leafs also played lucky on one goal and took advantage of small errors in defense on two others.
The Canadian also gave up four times during the second period on Thursday, in a 5-3 loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield scored to revive the Canadian (29-35-12), who was however unable to close the four-goal gap. Mike Matheson had two assists.
Montembeault stopped only eight shots in 27:54 of play. Cayden Primeau took over and made 18 saves.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Auston Matthews scored a goal in the victory.
Max Domi, Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann scored for the Maple Leafs (44-23-9). Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves.
The Canadian was without guards Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj, both with upper body injuries. Johnathan Kovacevic and Justin Barron, who was recalled from the Laval Rocket, replaced them in the lineup.
Up front, Jesse Ylönen gave way to Tanner Pearson.
For the Maple Leafs, forward Mitch Marner returned to action after a 12-game absence due to a lower body injury.
The Canadian will play again on Sunday evening, when he visits the New York Rangers.
A few expensive minutes
The first scoring opportunity was generated by the Maple Leafs, who attacked two on one. Montembeault, however, stopped Knies’ shot with his shield.
The Canadian then repeatedly threatened the opposing net. Samsonov made many good saves, particularly against the Habs’ first line.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Michael Pezzetta tries to disturb goalkeeper Ilya Samsonov.
Matthews knocked on the door late in the first period. However, he missed the target on a backhand shot after a good feint.
Montembeault also had some luck a few moments later, when McMann hit the post to his right.
The Maple Leafs finally showed opportunism in the second period.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Jayden Struble and John Tavares brawl along the ramp.
Domi got the ball rolling 2:21 into the second period. He deflected a shot from Ilya Lyubushkin between Montembeault’s pads.
Matthews returned to charge 17 seconds later. His pass to the front of the net deflected against the skate of Canadian defender David Savard and crossed the goal line.
For Matthews it was a 64e goal this season.
Knies made it 3-0 at 7:20. Montembeault escaped a long shot from William Nylander and Knies scored on the return.
After a fight between Ryan Reaves and Michael Pezzetta, who had stunned David Kampf a little earlier, McMann ended Montembeault’s evening of work by beating him on a throw-in from Marner at 7:54.
The Canadian scored at 9:05 of the second period, on the power play. Suzuki scored with a precise shot from a tight angle after a cross pass from Juraj Slafkovsky.
Caufield then reduced the gap to two goals with 1:28 left in the period. He hit the target with a one-timer on a pass from Matheson, who had just rounded the back of the net.
The best scoring chances in the third period belonged to the Maple Leafs. Reaves was frustrated by Primeau, then Matthews hit the post.
However, this did not come back to haunt the visitors.