The Edmonton Oilers set a team record with their tenth straight win Saturday night, scoring a 2-1 overtime road win over the Montreal Canadiens.
“We have just found ways to win games; whether that has been good goal tending, special teams, powerplays, penalty kills — third, fourth or first line everybody is contributing,” Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game.
The Canadiens struck on an early power play when Cole Caufield wired a shot past Stuart Skinner from the left side.
The Oilers had a few good scoring chances in the second period. Leon Draisaitl found Connor McDavid for an open look on the power play, but McDavid fired it wide. Late in the second, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins fired a one-timer from the right side, but Sam Montembault moved across to make the save.
In the first minute of the third, Warren Foegele drove to the net resulting in the puck being lodged between Montembault’s skate and the post. Leon Draisaitl slammed it in to make it 1-1. The Canadiens challenged for goalie interference as Foegele appeared to kick Montembault’s stick as he cut through the crease. The goal stood after video review.
The action picked up after that. Foegele hit the post on a two-on-one. Connor Brown was denied on a shorthanded breakaway. Sean Monahan had the entire net to shoot at but tipped the puck wide. Skinner made a blocker save on a sizzling shot by Caufield.
Brendan Gallagher went off for hooking Cody Ceci with 1:49 left in regulation, but the Oilers couldn’t muster the winning goal.
In overtime, Mike Matheson was called for high sticking Darnell Nurse. Evan Bouchard’s power play blast ended the game 2:01 into the extra session.
“Their goalie played great and made a lot of saves on some of our top guys, but we stuck with it, and we knew that we would find one or two,” Draisaitl said.
The Oilers also tied a team record with their eighth straight road win.
Skinner made 23 saves. Montembault made 39.
“They’re a tough team to handle with their speed and their offensive game and I think we did that pretty well,” Canadiens head coach Martin St Louis said.
The Oilers, 23-15-1, will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday (630 CHED, Face-off Show at 5:30 p.m., game at 7 p.m.).