The Montreal Canadiens needed a boost and got one from Alexander Radulov who returned to the lineup and added two assists on the night.
Carey Price had 31 saves in Habs win – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Paul Byron and Alex Galchenyuk were the goal scorers but the energy came from Radulov and Shea Weber who also added two assists on the night in a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“He’s so creative, and you know when you give him the puck, I just try to open up because I know I will get it back. His speed and, I don’t know, there are so many good things, right, but it’s nice to play with two fast wingers like him and (Paul Byron). They make my life really easy,” Galchenyuk said of Radulov.
WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens highlights
“He’s got so much passion and his passion, he brings that to his teammates, his linemates, and that line was really good tonight,” Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. “[Galchenyuk] was good, [Byron] again, what a big goal that he scored because we had a really good start, and I like his work ethic and I like his passion.”
Carey Price made 31 stops for the win.
William Nylander was the Leafs’ goal scorer.
Toronto fell to 8-7-3 on the year; Frederik Andersen made 27 saves in the loss.
“I expected us to come here and win,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “They played back-to-back, we had an opportunity. In the end, we didn’t execute. I mean, it was a good game, don’t get me wrong, hard-fought, we had our opportunities, all those things.
“You set expectations for yourself in life, and if you set high expectations, you have a chance to reach them. And if you don’t, you settle for second best. To me, we’ve got to get over the mindset, we should be coming in here to win, and so we’ve got to get that fixed.”
In Glendale Saturday night, the Arizona Coyotes’ Mike Smith made 43 saves to help the Coyotes overcome a collapse in the third period and take a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.
Mike Smith had 43 saves in Arizona win – file photo by Brent Clark
“I always know that San Jose will come at us like that,” Smith said . “They have a good, deep, veteran team. I know what to expect. They throw everything at the net and if you’re sleeping at all, you’re going to get exposed.
WATCH: All Coyotes vs. Sharks highlights
Martin Hanzal scored the game-winning goal early in the extra session to help the Coyotes escape.
“[Smith] was amazing tonight. That was why we won,” said Hanzal, who has 22 career game-winning goals.
Tobias Rieder and Max Domi scored in regulation for Arizona.
The Sharks ended a six-game road trip with thee straight losses and head home with 3-2-1 record for the trip.
Joe Pavelski and Tommy Wingels scored for the Sharks in the third period to force the extra time.
“In the last period of a six-game road trip, it was encouraging to see guys put their heads down and just work,” Pavelski said. “We’re disappointed we didn’t get the extra point. We felt like we were on them a lot of the game.”
Martin Jones took the loss on 19 saves.
In Dallas, the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid netted his fist career NHL hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Stars.
“Three pretty lucky goals,” McDavid said. “It’s a funny league that that way. You get Grade A chances and they’re not going in, then you start putting it there and they are going in. It’s weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump.”
Connor McDavid scored fist NHL hat trick in Dallas – Photo by Jack Lima
McDavid had been on a 10-game scoring drought before the outburst.
Cam Talbot who returned to form made 31 saves for the win that ended a five-game schneid for the Oilers.
Tyler Pitlick and Oscar Klefbom also scored for the Oilers.
The Oilers built a 4-0 lead before Patrick Eaves broke the shutout big from Talbot and Jamie Benn made it 4-2.
“The start was important for us to get our legs underneath us, because obviously we weren’t an overly confident team coming into it. But Connor, captain, leader, played a [heck] of game. Stepped up and laid it on the line and everyone else followed,” — Oilers head coach Todd McLellan said.
McDavid completed the hat trick to make the final score, 5-2.
“It’s puck luck,” McDavid said. “You hang around the net and good stuff happens. I guess that’s all that is.”
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