Josh Archibald had a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers downed the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 Saturday night at Rogers Place.
“The importance they have, not just on the penalty kill, but in a checking role tonight where you’ve got a tough turnaround coming back at 5 o’clock the next day, you need everybody throughout your lineup to chip in and not just chip in with points,” Dave Tippett said of Archibald and his linemate Riley Sheahan. “We needed that right through our lineup and those guys epitomized that.”
LISTEN BELOW: Dave Tippett
The Oilers reunited Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on their top line, and it paid off 90 seconds into the game.
McDavid sped around Ben Chiarot and set up Draisaitl for his 22nd of the season.
Later in the first, Ethan Bear fed Archibald in front, who chipped in his second of the season.
“The teams that do well are the teams that have depth,” Sheahan said. “You see that in the playoffs. Obviously we rely so much on our big guys and they do a good job and lead our team, but some nights they need some help so it’s good when we can chip in.”
LISTEN BELOW: Riley Sheahan
Jeff Petry responded with a shorthanded goal for the Canadiens, beating Mikko Koskinen glove side.
The Canadiens controlled the second period and tied the game when Phillip Danault tipped in a Petry power-play point shot.
“We had a slow start and they go up two, and I think that changed the momentum a little bit,” Petry said. “In the second period we came out and had a strong start and had a really good period. I think we dictated the pace in that period. It’s a game of a few too many power plays that with the players that they have is something you never want to do.”
The Oilers had only three shots in the second but earned a goal on a power play of their own. McDavid sliced through the defence after taking a pass from Draisaitl and beat Carey Price on his forehand.
Early in the third, Max Domi undressed Darnell Nurse and beat Koskinen to make it 3-3.
“We’re doing a lot of good things. I think the one thing we probably want to do is have better starts,” Habs captain Shea Weber said. “I think it’s been consistent on this road trip. It was little bit better at the start. It’ll stop us from digging out of a hole every time.”
“It’s obviously always tough when you give up something like that, but I think the troops rallied and we got back at it and we played hard,” Archibald said.
With 12:12 to go, Riley Sheahan finished off a two-on-one with Archibald to restore the Oilers lead.
“He competes so hard,” Sheahan said of Archibald. “He finishes his checks and wins his battle. I think he does that really well, but at the same time he’s hot some skill and can get in there on the forecheck and make some plays.”
“We beat ourselves. Some really bad penalties in the offensive zone and at bad times, and some real bad decisions,” Habs coach Claude Julien said. “Two two-on-one goals. I didn’t think we were sharp tonight, as simple as that.”
The Canadiens pulled Price for the final two minutes but couldn’t muster the equalizer.
“Shea and I have been clicking lately and to put a couple on the board and get a couple in the net, it felt really good for us,” Archibald said. “I think we’ve been playing well lately. It’s the small things that have been hurting us, and to have a comeback game like we did tonight and play a full 60, it’s a good feeling.”
LISTEN BELOW: Josh Archibald
“Too many penalties. Too many guys that have to sit when we’re killing and too many guys are working a lot harder than what they should be when we’re killing that long,” Weber said. “Other than that I thought we did a good job to fight back. A little bit of a slow start which is not what we wanted but there was a lot of fight in us. We kept coming back and just let it slip away at the end.”
McDavid has been voted the captain of the Pacific Divison for the All-Star Game in St. Louis on Jan. 25.
The Oilers, 20-15-4, will play in Vancouver on Monday.
–With files from 630 CHED’s Brenden Escott and Scott Johnston
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