Sam Montembeault made 30 saves and Jake Evans had a goal and an assist in the Montreal Canadiens’ 3-0 shutout of the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
Brendan Gallagher and Kaiden Guhle also scored for the Canadiens, who are 3-1-0 in their last four games.
Montembeault logged his second shutout of the season. The 28-year-old has played in each of Montreal’s last eight games, starting seven, as his increasingly reliable play has solidified his status as the Habs’ first-choice goaltender.
Edmonton’s third shutout loss of the season ended the team’s four-game (3-0-1) points streak.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid each had four-game multi-point streaks snapped in the shutout.
The usually high-powered Oilers offense has averaged a modest 2.63 goals per game this season. Draisaitl (13) and McDavid (seven) have combined for 20 of those goals, but Edmonton hasn’t received much contribution from the rest of its lineup.
Calvin Pickard stopped 22 of 24 shots for the Oilers
Both teams showed plenty of energy over the first two periods, though this pace didn’t translate to many clear scoring opportunities. Edmonton held a 21-14 shots advantage through the first 40 minutes, and Montembeault and the Habs defense did a good job of keeping the Oilers in check.
The Canadiens’ attack didn’t emerge until 31 seconds before the second intermission. Mike Matheson’s shot from the boards was expertly redirected by Gallagher past Pickard for the game’s opening goal.
It was Gallagher’s eighth goal of the season, though only his second point on home ice. Gallagher has eight points (six goals, two assists) in nine road games, and only one assist and Monday’s goal in 10 home games.
Guhle extended Montreal’s lead 5:52 into the third period. The Habs forced a turnover in Edmonton’s zone, leading to a passing play that was completed by Guhle’s wrist shot from the circle. Evans was credited with the second assist.
At the 16:52 mark of the third period, Evans sealed the victory with an empty-net goal when he launched a looping shot from his own slot down the ice.
