The Vancouver Canucks scored three times in the second period which proved fatal for the Montreal Canadiens for their sixth loss of the season.
GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 2 vs Vancouver Canucks 5 | Final
Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
15 Alex Newhook - 14 Nick Suzuki - 17 Josh Anderson
22 Cole Caufield - 28 Christian Dvorak - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
70 Tanner Pearson - 91 Sean Monahan - 11 Brendan Gallagher
55 Michael Pezzetta - 71 Jake Evans - 49 Rafael Harvey-Pinard
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 52 Justin Barron
21 Kaiden Guhle - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
72 Arber Xhekaj - 54 Jordan Harris
Goaltenders
Starter: 34 Jake Allen
Alternate: 30 Cayden Primeau
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Jesse Ylonen, Sam Montembeault, Gustav Lindstrom
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), David Savard (hand)
Game Report
The Vancouver Canucks are owners of the top offense in the NHL. And the Canadiens rank 28th in the league in goals allowed. So holding Vancouver off the scoresheet in the first period had to be considered a small victory.
But in the middle frame the Canuck machine shifted to a higher gear, outshooting the Canadiens 15-8 including six high danger scoring chances. By contrast, the Bruins managed just six high danger scoring chances in 62:13 on Saturday night.
Vancouver scored three times in the second period with goals coming from Conor Garland, Ilya Mikheyev and Dakota Joshua. Each goal came at even strength.
Following Garland's goal, Christian Dvorak appeared to tie the score, but after review, it was determined that Cole Caufield was offside and the goal was disallowed. It was the third time this season that a Canadiens goal was reversed due to Caufield putting the play offside.
Mike Matheson gave the Bell Centre crowd some life before the seven minute mark of the third period with a power play goal. But an empty netter by Brock Boeser sealed the win with less than two minutes remaining.
Arber Xhekaj and Phillip Di Giuseppe exchanged goals in the last minute of play to produce the final result.
Nick Suzuki finished the game with a minus-4 rating; Mike Matheson, Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher were close behind at minus-3.
Game Statistics
Canadiens (7-6-2)
Shots: 31
Face-off %: 42.9
Power play: 1/2
Penalty minutes: 4
Hits: 13
Blocks: 24
Canucks (11-3-1)
Shots: 36
Face-off %: 57.1
Power play: 0/2
Penalty minutes: 4
Hits: 14
Blocks: 17
Scoring Summary
Canadiens Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: --
3rd period: Matheson (4)-PPG, Xhekaj (1)
OT: --
SO: --
Canucks Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Garland (2), Mikheyev (6), Joshua (2)
3rd period: Boeser (12)-ENG, Di Giuseppe (3)-ENG
OT: --
SO: --
Goaltenders
MTL: Allen (L) 3-3-1
VAN: DeSmith (W) 4-0-1
Canadiens Player of the Game
Jake Allen - Sporting a new mask for the occasion, Jake Allen made 31 saves including several of the highlight reel quality.
Video Highlights
Post-game Quotes
Jake Allen
“It's not easy when you lose your stick. I looked back, but we never carried the puck into the opposing zone. I didn't want to risk abandoning my net."
Marty St. Louis
"The emotion wasn't the same (as against the Bruins), but I liked our game. We lost on the (score)board, but the match could have gone either way. It was close."
Game Preview
Up Next
The Canadiens continue their four game home stand as they host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. Puck drop is 7 pm ET.
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