The Habs may have started their three-game western trip with a loss to the Golden Knights, but they could be satisfied.
It took a point off one of the league’s powerhouses.
Tonight, he takes on the Arizona Coyotes.
Here’s Martin St-Louis’ line-up:
Tonight’s lineup
Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/5vZKHG2iR1
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 3, 2023
And André Tourigny’s:
El equipo de esta noche.
The boys tonight. @DignityHealthAZ | #Yotes pic.twitter.com/bL87NyYOKj– Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) November 3, 2023
Cayden Primeau acted as assistant to Jake Allen. Allen was playing in his 400th NHL game.
Tanner Pearson was playing his 600th game.
Early in the game, the Canadiens awarded a penalty shot to their opponents for the third consecutive game. Saturday, to Adam Lowry, Monday, to Jack Eichel and tonight, to Nick Schmaltz.
The latter didn’t miss such an opportunity.
¡Schmaltz anota en el tiro de castigo!
Schmaltz with the penalty shot! 💪1-0 😎 https://t.co/dcpxzg0e9d pic.twitter.com/VCvumpgvZ7
– Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) November 3, 2023
Fans exploded with joy:
Here, from Mullett Arena, is the crowd’s reaction to their team’s first goal pic.twitter.com/iUJsMMGNcT
– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) November 3, 2023
It didn’t take long for Montreal to hit back, however.
Sean Monahan tied the game. He has now scored in his last four games.
Sean Monahan now has a four-game goal streak 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vNUMYzWuAo
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 3, 2023
The visitors thought they had taken the lead towards the end of the period, but the goal was disallowed.
Nick Suzuki had stripped Connor Ingram.
Captain Nick still owns you Ingram https://t.co/pBCPC5ThPx
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 3, 2023
At the end of the first period, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard gave heavily against the boards. He was in so much pain that he had great difficulty returning to the bench.
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In the second period, he was back at it, but not for long.
He left for good because of this contact:
RHP has gone to the room after this hit. No luck for him tonight. pic.twitter.com/ksNcDF2RK7
– Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) November 3, 2023
Too bad…
The second period belonged to the Coyotes. They dominated 18-10 in shots on goal, and late in the frame they finally regained the lead on a Lawson Crouse goal.
Jake Allen was left to his own devices on the sequence.
A third goal in two games for Lawson Crouse and the Coyotes take the lead back! 👌 pic.twitter.com/5bqYhfZ1RO
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 3, 2023
After 40 minutes of play, Arizona led 2-1.
Early in the third period, Montreal took advantage of a power play to recreate the tie.
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Brendan Gallagher, who picked up an assist on his team’s first goal, scored. It was his 400th career point.
A 400th point of beauty 🥲
His 400th point is a good one#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/i4IxwInT90
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 3, 2023
However, indiscipline sank the Montrealers (again).
Arizona, in turn, took advantage of a PP to take their third lead of the game. Schmaltz scored his second of the game.
Logan Cooley picked up his sixth power-play assist of the season.
Nick Schmaltz responds with his second of the night to put the Coyotes back in front! pic.twitter.com/gzwzMhIzTe
– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 3, 2023
The score remained the same until the end of the period.
Final score: 3-2 Coyotes.
On Saturday, Martin St-Louis’ men return to action against the Blues in St-Louis. Will Christian Dvorak be back in action?
Extension
Jake Allen was good again. After 40 minutes of play, the opposition had 56 shots on goal. Not all hit the target, but it’s still a lot.
He’s been busy. Will he be in the starting line-up on Saturday?
Jake Allen continues to be excellent for the Habs. pic.twitter.com/PxQM52DiLg
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 3, 2023