In Montreal, Eric Staal‘s acquisition form the Buffalo Sabres paid dividends on Monday night for the Canadiens.
Staal delivered the game-winning goal in extra time to defeat the Edmonton Oilers, 3-2.
“This was a moment for sure that we’ll keep in the memory bank, but I’m hoping there’s even bigger and better ones here in the next while,” Staal said.
Carey Price made 21 saves to get the win for Montreal.
“I just love that we stayed with it and competed,” Staal said. “Tonight was a lot of fun to be a part of, and I could feel the energy through the TV screens. I wish it was full because I know what this place is like when it’s full in that type of moment. But it was awesome nonetheless, and I was thankful that it was my opportunity tonight, but as a group we’ve got a lot of different guys that can be difference makers here.”
Montreal rallied back from a 2-0 lead for the Oilers through 40 minutes of play.
“You look at their team, they just come out and work, I don’t think there’s any real secret to it or their system,” the Oilers’ Darnell Nurse said. “They come out working, they play hard, and they play well. It feels like every time we play them, they have a real solid game. That’s kind of their identity, to keep things out of the middle and work. That’s why they’re on the right side tonight.”
Josh Anderson and Tomas Tatar struck for regulation goals for Montreal early in the third period.
Devin Shore scored in the first period to stake the Oilers to a 1-0 lead.
“We weren’t on our toes as much as we should,” Oilers head coach Dave Tippett said. “Then once they got the first one, we got back to playing a little bit, and a mistake cost us the second one. So the best way to protect the lead is to play in the other team’s end, and the first five minutes we were passive, didn’t didn’t do enough forechecking to give us the momentum we needed.”
Darnell Nurse scored in the middle frame to extend the lead to 2-0.
“I’m sure he’s very happy,” Montreal’s Tomas Tatar said of Staal. “I think he deserved it. He played a very hard game. He was very strong in the (face-off) circle, and he had some opportunities. We’re obviously very happy for him to get the monkey off the back, you know, playing for a new team.”
Mike Smith made 29 saves in the loss.
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