Dec 9, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Patrik Laine recorded a goal and an assist in regulation before the Montreal Canadiens won 3-2 in a shootout against the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Monday night.
Kirby Dach also scored and Sam Montembeault made 27 saves, including four in overtime for the Canadiens, who improved to 3-1-0 on their five-game homestand.
Troy Terry scored both goals and Lukas Dostal made 19 saves for the Ducks, who lost for the sixth time in the past eight games (2-4-2). Anaheim was playing the opener of a four-game road trip.
Laine and Cole Caufield scored in the shootout for Montreal, while Terry and Mason McTavish each missed the net for Anaheim.
The Canadiens went on an early power play when Jansen Harkins was called for slashing Dach, and Laine scored on a one-timer from the left circle 12 seconds later for a 1-0 lead at 2:36 of the first period.
It was the third goal in four games for Laine since he returned from a knee injury sustained in the preseason.
Lane Hutson assisted on the goal to extend his point streak to seven games, the longest by a rookie defenseman in team history.
The Ducks tied it 1-1 at 10:49 of the first.
Montembeault made a save on Cam Fowler’s shot off the rush, but the rebound came out to the slot and Terry backhanded the puck into the net.
Montreal committed back-to-back minor penalties early in the second period and Terry scored on the second power play. He redirected a feed from Alex Killorn from just in front of the crease to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead at 4:25.
The Canadiens answered 11 seconds later. Dostal went behind his net to handle the puck, but it skipped over his blade and Juraj Slafkovsky was waiting behind him. Slafkovsky quickly passed the puck out front to Dach, who he fired it into the open net to tie it 2-2 and end a 19-game goal-less streak.
The Ducks outshot Montreal 4-0 in overtime.
Jacob Trouba made his debut for the Ducks three days after he was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers. The 30-year-old defenseman had five hits in 22:35 of ice time.
–Field Level Media
