Key takeaways:
- Suzuki gathers a goal two assists in Montreal’s 5-2 win.
- Canadiens keeper Sam Montembeault celebrates with teammates after Montreal’s 5-2 victory over the Oilers on Saturday evening at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Canadiens beat Oilers 5-2:
One may have been hard-pressed to suppose which squad was still battling for a playoff place, which was long out of the picture on Saturday evening in Edmonton.
Nick Suzuki had a goal, and two assists as the Montreal Canadiens stayed hot of late, beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2.
Brendan Gallagher and Cole Caufield individually had a goal and an assist. Artturi Lehkonen and Mike Hoffman also netted for the Canadiens (15-34-7), who have triumphed seven of their last eight matches despite still posing near the bottom of the NHL positions.
“I think our system right now is letting us play way better, and we’re kind of dictating the match right now,” stated Montreal defenceman Brett Kulak. “Guys are bouncing up in the play, and there is no uncertainty in our play anywhere. We’re performing well.”
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Chris Wideman chipped in two assists, and goalie Sam Montembeault made 28 saves to give interim head coach Martin St. Louis a 7-4 record.
“We feel pretty sure the way we’re playing, we’re just having fun, we’re playing a particular style that we all appreciate,” Gallagher said. “He St. Louis seems to be getting the best out of a lot of us, and we’re just having pleasure playing the match right now; it’s good to see in our team.”
Evander Kane and Ryan McLeod responded for the Oilers (30-22-4), who have fallen two straight while in the center of a heated playoff race. Mike Smith blocked 24 shots.
“It wasn’t our finest effort, not the best I’ve seen in my three weeks here,” said Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, who models a 7-4-1 record since substituting Dave Tippett. “We can do better. We can perform at a higher rate than we did tonight.
Source – cbc.ca
