McDavid has goal, 2 assists as Oilers topple Canadiens 4-1

Molly AronsonJuly 7, 2022

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) – Connor McDavid scored the winner late in the third period, and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in a physical matchup Monday. McDavid also had two assists for a three-point game for the Oilers, who trailed 1-0 with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation. Jesse Puljujarvi, with a goal and an assist, Ethan Bear, and Devin Shore also scored for Edmonton, while Mike Smith made 22 saves.

Eric Staal scored for Montreal, which got 25 saves from Jake Allen after replacing Carey Price to start the second period. Price stopped seven shots in the opening 20 minutes and didn’t come out after the intermission. With a game in hand, the Oilers moved within one point of the Winnipeg Jets for second place in the North Division. The Oilers stretched their home winning streak to eight games and improved to 2-3-1 against Montreal in 2021. The Canadiens, meanwhile, fell to 2-6-0 over their past eight games without injured winger Brendan Gallagher (broken thumb).

Coming off Saturday’s 4-0 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens opened a five-game road trip that will see them back at Rogers Place on Wednesday before three crucial outings in Calgary against the Flames, who are chasing Montreal for the division’s fourth and final playoff spot. Edmonton tied the game 1-1 at 10:49 of the third on Bear’s one-timer off McDavid’s pass after tremendous pressure in the offensive zone for his first goal of the season. McDavid pushed his team ahead with 4:49 left in the third when he collected the puck at Edmonton’s blue line, split Montreal’s defense, and fired short-side on Allen.

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Puljujarvi made it 3-1 with 2:23 left on a breakaway before Shore iced it into an empty net.

Montreal scored at 6:46 of the second when Corey Perry threw a pass in front that hit Staal’s right skate and past Smith for his fifth, second since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in late March.

The 36-year-old’s only other goal with Montreal was overtime against Edmonton in his Canadiens debut on April 5. Edmonton’s best chance of the period came right after an Oilers penalty kills, but McDavid saw the puck roll off his stick on a 2-on-0 off a terrific long-distance aerial pass from Smith.

The Oilers went to the man advantage in the closing seconds of the period, but Allen held his ground, including getting enough of Bear’s shot that trickled wide.

Montreal survived another Oilers man advantage to start the third before Alex Chiasson chipped a shot over the net from in tight after Allen made the initial save.

The Canadien’s backup then stood his ground on Josh Archibald’s diving chance before Bear tied it with his first goal in 49 games.

Both teams hit in a spirited first period, including Montreal defenseman Alexander Romanov sending Jujhar Khaira to the Edmonton locker room following a massive mid-ice collision.

The Oilers appeared to take the lead at 12:01 when McDavid snapped what would have been his first goal against the Canadiens in 2021, but Montreal challenged for goaltender interference on Price.

Smith stopped Staal on a 2-on-1 rush with the blocker before Montreal’s power play – 2 for 31 over its past nine games coming into Monday – got a chance later in the period, but Jesperi Kotkaniemi fired over Smith’s net.

Edmonton then got a man advantage after Phillip Danault took a healthy run at McDavid, with Leon Draisaitl forcing a good save out of Price, who entered 3-0-0 with a .960 save percentage against the Oilers this season, to keep things even through 20 minutes before Allen took over to start the second.

NOTES: Following the conclusion of this two-game set Wednesday, the Oilers and Canadiens will play twice more in the regular season – May 10 and 12 in Montreal. … Edmonton coach Dave Tippett said before the game Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (upper-body injury) is expected to practice with the team Tuesday. The center was hurt on April 7 in Ottawa.