Alex Newhook scored two goals, including the game-winner at 16:40 of the third period, to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-3 road win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
The victory ended a four-game losing streak for the Canadiens, as well as a seven-game winless drought (0-6-1) in Anaheim.
With the score tied 3-3 late in the final frame, Montreal’s Jake Evans made an aggressive play to take the puck at center ice and then rushed deep into the Anaheim zone before passing to Newhook for the game-deciding finish.
Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle scored Montreal’s other goals.
Montreal goalie Sam Montembeault stopped 30 of 33 shots, none bigger a save-of-the-year candidate to rob Frank Vatrano at 6:36 of the third period. With the Ducks threatening on a two-on-one, Montembeault’s spectacular glove save denied Vatrano a surefire goal.
Mason McTavish had two goals and an assist for the Ducks for his second three-point game of the season. Vatrano had a goal and an assist, and rookie Tristan Luneau collected an assist for his first NHL point.
The Ducks are on a four-game losing streak (0-4-0), as the team fell short of its NHL-leading seventh third-period comeback of the season.
Montreal built a 2-0 lead in the first 6:37 on goals from Newhook and Guhle. The two teams exchanged goals early in the second, and McTavish again brought the Ducks within one on a tally at 6:00 of the second frame.
After being denied by Montembeault in highlight-reel fashion, Vatrano stayed patient and sniped home a wrist shot from the circle for the equalizer at 11:31 of the final frame.
Anaheim goalie John Gibson stopped 24 of 28 shots.
–Field Level Media
