EditorsNote: changes to "start" in third graf; changes to "1:24" in fifth graf; reorders names in last graf
Bo Horvat scored the game-winner in a shootout Monday to give the host Vancouver Canucks a 2-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.
Jeff Petry scored for the Canadiens in the first period, and Adam Gaudette responded for the Canucks with 41 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Thatcher Demko won his fourth straight start, turning away 29 shots and all three of the Canadiens shootout attempts. Carey Price was tagged with the loss in the Montreal net, making 28 saves.
The Canucks made a costly early error. Caught with too many men on the ice, they were forced into a penalty kill, and at 4:37 of the first period, the Canadiens capitalized. Petry lofted the puck from the point and it found its way through traffic and over Demko's shoulder.
The Canadiens gave up a five-on-three power play for 1:24 late in the first period when Corey Perry took a penalty for tripping and Paul Byron was charged with goaltender interference for crashing into Demko. Montreal didn't allow many opportunities while two men down, and Price easily managed a shot from Jake Virtanen and a deflected attempt by Nils Hoglander to kill the second penalty.
The Canadiens shut the Canucks down through much of the game, holding them to only six shots in the second period. J.T. Miller bounced one off the post on an attempted wraparound shot at 8:28 to log the Canucks first shot of the middle frame.
Gaudette finally solved Price at 19:19 of the third. Wide open to the goalie's left, Gaudette blasted a pass from Horvat to tie the score at 1-1 and force overtime.
The five-minute three-on-three solved nothing, and the teams went to a shootout.
Price stopped Brock Boeser and Miller but got thrown off by Horvat slowly bringing the puck into the slot. Price covered the 5-hole but Horvat went high blocker side for the win.
Demko stymied Nick Suzuki, Jonathan Drouin and Tomas Tatar.
--Field Level Media
