Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach scored in the shootout as the Montreal Canadiens cruised to a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen is congratulated by teammate Nick Suzuki after stopping the Calgary Flames in the shootout to win 2-1 in NHL hockey action in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Josh Anderson tied the game for Montreal (14-12-2) in the third period, forcing overtime.
Jake Allen made 34 saves and denied Nazem Kadri’s game-tying effort to snap a three-game home losing streak.
Jonathan Huberdeau scored in the second period for Calgary (13-11-5). Tyler Toffoli had one assist in his first game back in Montreal since being traded to Calgary last season.
Jacob Markstrom made 37 saves as the Flames went winless in their three-game road trip.
READ MORE: Marner hits OT winner to lift Leafs past Flames
After a scoreless opening frame, Huberdeau pounced on a loose header 5:04 into the second period to break the ice for the Flames.
Montreal had a golden opportunity to tie the game with a two-man advantage. Markstrom denied Joel Edmundsson and Christian Dvorak to keep Calgary’s lead intact.
In a scary moment, Flames defenseman Chris Tanev took a Suzuki slap shot to the head while trying to block a scoring chance. He skated off the ice, with the help of his teammates. Tanev did not return to the game.
Suzuki took down Nazem Kadri five minutes later with a check to the head, which also sent the Calgary center to the locker room. Kadri returned in the third period.
Canadian winger Cole Caufield was taken to the locker room in the second period after a check from Trevor Lewis. Caufield did not return to the game and was listed with an upper body injury.
The Habs tied the score at 1:40 of the third period when Juraj Slafkovsky found Anderson in front of the net for his eighth goal of the campaign.
In overtime, Toffoli took a double-minor high-stick call that gave the opposition an extra-time man advantage for a second straight game. Joel Armia had the game-winner on the tip of his stick, but was denied by Markstrom, sending the game to a shootout.
Montreal Canadiens’ Christian Dvorak (28) is tackled in front of Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom by Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
On the other side of the ice, Allen sealed Montreal’s win by saving Kadri’s final shot attempt.
Toffoli returns to Montreal
Tyler Toffoli’s stay with the Montreal Canadiens was a short, but memorable one. The winger, who was part of the Canadiens’ Stanley Cup run in 2020-21, returned to the Bell Center for the first time since the trade that sent him to the Flames.
The 30-year-old received a standing ovation during a TV timeout in the first period.
The Flames will now return to Calgary to welcome the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
More to come…
© 2022 The Canadian Press
