The Montreal Canadiens look to pick up the pieces after a disastrous third period when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Montreal scored four consecutive goals to seize a two-goal lead before the bottom fell out in a 6-5 setback to the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. The loss was just the third in nine games for the Canadiens, who suffered a string of penalty calls that led to two crucial goals against.
“It’s easy to be frustrated by the result and by everything that happened,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. “The Oilers won on the board, but they haven’t beat us. Honestly, the result is disappointing, but I’m happy with the way we played (on Thursday). We played 60 minutes, but we just didn’t win. Even when they were leading 3-1, they led, but they weren’t beating us.”
Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield each scored two goals, Josh Anderson also tallied and Lane Hutson and Oliver Kapanen each had two assists for the Canadiens.
Power-play attempts favored Edmonton 5-1.
“It’s tough. I think we deserved better, a couple of power plays late, one in front of the net,” Newhook said. “It’s a tough break when you’re up 5-3, you’d like to close out those games, but we got into penalty trouble.
“But it’s a good power play and to hold them to no goals when we had to kill however many it was, it’s a tough task. I think we can step up and do that job, but frustrating for sure.”
Captain Nick Suzuki extended his point streak to eight games after notching an assist on Caufield’s second goal of the game. Suzuki leads the team in assists (11) and points (12), while Caufield has top honors in goals (seven).
Jakub Dobes is expected to put his unbeaten record on the line Saturday for the Canadiens. He has yielded six goals on 119 shots this season, while goaltending partner Sam Montembeault permitted six goals on 29 shots Thursday en route to his third loss in five starts.
The Canucks return home following a five-game road trip that began with considerable promise before fizzling out. They won their first three contests, then saw their offense struggle in a 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and a 2-1 setback in Nashville on Thursday.
“I mean, obviously would’ve liked a better result,” Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes said. “I think we’re all just ready to go home and have a good homestand.”
Max Sasson scored his third goal in five games since being recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League.
“I feel really good,” Sasson said. “I feel fast. I feel a lot more confident than I was last year. My mindset is in a good spot, and I just try to look forward to the next day after games are over. Doing a better job of that.”
Feisty Kiefer Sherwood, who posted a league-record 462 hits last season, scored one of his team-best four goals during the just-completed road trip.
Conor Garland, who leads the team in assists (five) and points (seven), saw his four-game point streak come to a halt on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
