Giving Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers too many good chances can make it harder for most National League teams and the Montreal Canadiens learned that the hard way Saturday at Rogers Place, losing 5 to 3.
See the highlights in the main video above.
The indiscipline particularly hurt the CH, which had to manage on three separate occasions with a disadvantage of two players, and this, during the first half of the second period only. Defenseman Joel Edmundson did not help his cause in this department, first taking a minor for high sticking once morest Leon Draisaitl, before being given a major and a game misconduct for giving a cross-check in the face of Zach Hyman.
The crowd favorites hit the target three times on the power play in the first half of the midfielder, including twice with two more men. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Draisaitl and McDavid, in order, cheated the vigilance of Jake Allen.
Darnell Nurse also added his two cents to the Oilers’ glorious period, shaking the ropes with just five seconds left in the engagement.
McDavid completed the scoring in the third period, adding four points in the game, as did Draisaitl.
Allen looked pretty bad, allowing five goals on 22 shots.
In the blow despite everything
Down 3 to 1 following this wave of penalties in the second period, the Canadian never let go. So he was able to create the tie.
In just over three minutes, Evgenii Dadonov and Arber Xhekaj, on the power play, tied the game.
The Canadian also did well with the advantage of a man, since Nick Suzuki also found the back of the net in similar circumstances, in the first period.
Goaltender Stuart Skinner still had the last laugh, stopping 30 of 33 shots he faced.
The Canadiens will continue their journey in Western Canada with a stop in Vancouver to face the Canucks on Monday.
SUMMARY
THIRD PERIOD
20:00 – Game over
14:40 – BUT EDM 5-3 wow! The Connor McDavid show continues; the electrifying skater strips Jake Allen and secures a place in the games of the week ( once more!)
00:00 – Start of period
SECOND PERIOD
20:00 – End of period
19:55 – BUT EDM 4-3 Darnell Nurse stuns Martin St-Louis’ troops late in the second period and the Oilers regain the lead
16:38 – BUT MTL 3-3 What a show of character! Arber Xhekaj brings everyone back to square one, Juraj Slafkovsky blacks out the score sheet on the streak
Arber Xhekaj brings everyone back to square one –
16:28 – Darnell Nurse is kicked out for delaying the game; minor punishment
14:39 – Connor McDavid hooks Mike Matheson; minor punishment
13:26 BUT MTL 3-2 – Evgenii Dadonov takes advantage of a juicy rebound in the slot and reduces the score to a single goal
Evgenii Dadonov scores his 2nd of the season –
09:36 – BUT EDM 3-1 Oilers big guns take advantage of a five-on-three, Connor McDavid threads the needle with a hard shot
Connor McDavid threads the needle –
08:55 – Nick Suzuki closes his hand on the puck; minor punishment
06:27 – BUT EDM 2-1 Leon Draisaitl accepts the handover from Connor McDavid and fires a missile at the top; the locals make the indiscipline of the CH pay
Leon Draisaitl makes it 2-1 –
05:20 – Joel Edmundson serves a dangerous cross check to the head of Zach Hyman, Edmundson is ejected from the game
Joel Edmundson is ejected from the game –
05:08 – Kirby Dach fait trébucher Connor McDavid
01:25 – BUT EDM 1-1 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins provides the Oilers response by completing the brilliant staging initiated by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins provides the reply –
00:42 – Joel Edmundson brings his stick to Leon Draisaitl’s face; minor punishment
00:00 – Start of period
FIRST PERIOD
20:00 – End of period
19:09 – Arber Xhekaj trips Connor McDavid; minor punishment
16:37 – BUT MTL 1-0 Nick Suzuki opens the scoring with his signature shot, Mike Matheson and Kirby Dach get an assist
NIck Suzuki opens the scoring on the power play! –
16:20 – Connor McDavid hooks Mike Matheson; minor punishment
00:00 – Start of the game
Pregame
Rem Pitlick will be back in the lineup to make up for the loss of the veteran. The Ontarian was recalled from the Laval Rocket following driving in six points in nine games. With the big club this season, he has not blacked the score sheet in seven games.
“He has to be productive on the ice, whether offensively or defensively. He is able to do it, ”said St-Louis in a press briefing.
“I will try to do what I did last year. I will try to play well defensively and on 200 feet. I want to bring speed and ideally make some good plays. I want to keep it simple and bring some energy,” Pitlick said.
Defender Johnathan Kovacevic will be back in the lineup, while Jordan Harris and Chris Wideman will be left out.
It is once once more Jake Allen who will be sent in front of the net. The New Brunswicker was solid standing up to 45 shots in a 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
The big guns
With a record of 12-10-1, the Habs are sixth in the Atlantic Division standings. However, his differential of -11 is one of the worst in the Eastern Conference, following those of the Columbus Blue Jackets (-24) and the Philadelphia Flyers (-22).
It will obviously be necessary to watch Connor McDavid, who prances at the top of the scorers of the team and the National Hockey League (NHL) with 43 points.
«[Leon Draisaitl et McDavid] are excellent players. They play a lot of minutes and I think it will take a collective effort to counter these guys. […] They have too much speed, talent and intelligence, we have to face them collectively,” analyzed St-Louis.
The Oilers are in a similar situation with a 13-11-0 record, good for 26 points. However, the Alberta squad is fourth in the Pacific Division standings.
