Montreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault withstood the initial Vancouver 1st-period scoring-chance onslaught, while Canucks netminder Spencer Martin failed to reciprocate. In fact, he gave up a softy or two. He was replaced by Collin Delia after the Habs scored their fourth goal.
Martin gave up the four goals on eight shots.
(Rather than repeat the thought process from our most recent article, feel free to just click that link. Thank you.)
Meanwhile, after falling behind 4-0 in the first period to the NHL team ranked 26th in goals scored, the Canucks went into a general malaise for the first 35-minutes of the game.
After failing to score on some glorious chances in the first five minutes of the game, the Canucks seem to lose their wind. They lost confidence. The intangible shift was palpable, and after the first Montreal goal, Martin became rattled as did his teammates.
Sheldon Dries committed an ugly turnover in the D-zone that led to that first Habs goal and it was downhill for awhile after that.
Turning Point
Teams with 4-0 leads, especially young ones, tend to coast. Definitely during the regular season. Often times it results in a serious comeback bid. The youthful Habs must have thought the game was over.
The Canucks put on a surge late in the second period, scored twice and then stormed into the third period. They would take a 5-4 lead at the 8:49 mark …
… Only to blow it and fall behind 6-5. Only to tie it on the power play with 1:25 remaining. Only to win it in overtime.
The Canucks finish 2-and-2 on their mini-homestand.
It’s only the third time in franchise history the Canucks won a game in which they trailed by four goals.
An absolute gong show.
Canucks Goal Scorers
2nd Period
4-1 Montreal lead – Even Strength – Conor Garland (4) from Andrei Kuzmenko, 16:44
Garland was in alone and juked Montembeault to snap a 17-game goal scoring drought.
4-2 Montreal lead – Even Strength – Ilya Mikheyev (7) from Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, 18:28
Mikheyev went to the net thru traffic and cashed in on a feed from behind the net from ‘Petey’.
3rd Period
4-3 Montreal lead – Even Strength – Bo Horvat (20) from Nils Höglander and Riley Stillman, 4:02
As he’s done all season, Horvat staked out a spot in front and banged in his own rebound.
4-4 – Even Strength – Ilya Mikheyev (8) from Elias Pettersson and Riley Stillman, 5:45
Petey threaded the needle through the skates of a Habs D-man to find Mikheyev low right circle from a tough angle.
5-4 – Canucks – Even Strength – Jack Studnicka (2) Unassisted, 8:49
Studnicka knocked down a clearing attempt by Montembeault along the end boards and beat the goalie to the front.
6-6 – Power Play – Andrei Kuzmenko (12) from J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, 18:35
Seven seconds into the power play, “Koozy” ties the game with a redirection in front.
Overtime
7-6 – Canucks – Even Strength (3-on-3) – Elias Pettersson (12) Unassisted, :13
Petey dumps a Hab, picks up the puck, heads to the front of the net and slams home the game winner.
Canucks 3 Stars:
1) Elias Pettersson – Three point night including the game winning goal in overtime.
2) Ilya Mikheyev – Two goal night.
3) Andrei Kuzmenko – An assist and then a goal, the one that tied the game at six.
