Montreal Canadiens' Mathieu Perreault (85) checks Edmonton Oilers' Markus Niemelainen (80) during third-period NHL action in Edmonton on Saturday, March 5, 2022.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Nick Suzuki had a goal with two assists as the visiting Montreal Canadiens continued their recent run of success with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.
Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher each recorded a goal with an assist for the Canadiens, who have an Eastern Conference-low 37 points but have won seven of eight. Sam Montembeault made 28 saves for Montreal, which is 7-4-0 since Martin St. Louis took over as head coach last month.
Nick Schmaltz gets 2 goals and 5 assists, Arizona Coyotes beat Ottawa Senators 8-5
Vancouver Canucks storm back to down Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4
Meanwhile, Evander Kane and Ryan McLeod each had a goal for Edmonton, which is mired in a 2-4-1 rut. The Oilers are 5-11-0 at home after winning nine of their first 10 there.
Montreal opened the scoring with 9:02 left in the first period. Off an Edmonton turnover in its own zone, Caufield corralled the puck on the far boards at the blue line, skated in and beat Mike Smith.
The Oilers levelled the contest just 22 seconds later when Kane put home a perfectly placed Leon Draisaitl pass for his eighth goal in 17 games with Edmonton.
The Canadiens, though, went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. On the power play, Gallagher put home the rebound of a Suzuki shot with just 39 seconds before the break.
Edmonton tied the game again, this time 5:37 into the second via McLeod. Montreal challenged for goaltender inference, but the goal was upheld. Replay bit the Canadiens later in the period when Suzuki’s presumed go-ahead goal was wiped out for an offsides call. However, moments later, he converted without controversy to give Montreal a 3-2 lead with 9:43 left in the middle frame.
The Canadiens thought they increased the lead to 4-2 through Laurent Dauphin, but for the second time in the period, they had a goal overturned for offsides. Montreal eventually made it a two-goal game when Brett Kulak drew Smith out of the net, then skated behind the end line before setting up Artturi Lehkonen for an easy short-handed conversion with 9:45 left in regulation.
Mike Hoffman added an empty-netter to secure the continuation of the Canadiens’ most successful stretch of the season.