Canadiens’ Suzuki scores time beyond regulation winner in preseason win over Leafs

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Whereas there’s no denying exhibition video games don’t depend within the standings, the Canadiens may need discovered a worthwhile lesson Monday evening in a contest that seemingly meant nothing.

Maybe this rebuilding workforce, with 10 gamers age 23 or youthful, can play with one of many NHL’s elite. And possibly the Canadiens, who anticipate to be offensively challenged this season, can rating objectives in addition.

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Montreal got here from behind to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in time beyond regulation at Scotiabank Enviornment, displaying loads of character within the course of.

With the Canadiens seemingly headed to their fourth defeat in 5 exhibition contests — to not point out their third loss to the Leafs in 4 days — Josh Anderson despatched the sport into time beyond regulation with 42 seconds remaining in regulation. Anderson beat Ilya Samsonov from the underside of the circle with a excessive shot to the blocker facet with goaltender Jake Allen eliminated for an additional attacker.

Anderson, as ordinary, proved to be a key contributor, taking three photographs whereas delivering two hits.

The guests required solely 31 seconds, and one shot, in time beyond regulation to flee with the victory. Captain Nick Suzuki scored the winner, changing Cole Caufield’s rebound that struck the submit.

The Canadiens now have a 2-3 report in exhibition play, and the 5 objectives have been probably the most the workforce has scored over that course of.

Mattias Norlinder, Kirby Dach and Johnathan Kovacevic scored Montreal’s different objectives. That two of the scores got here from defencemen — to not point out 10 of the workforce’s 25 photographs have been generated by the blueline corps — might augur properly because the Canadiens be taught extra about themselves.

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Norlinder’s aim, which opened the scoring fewer than 4 minutes into the sport, got here on the power-play — one which has struggled up to now. It was solely Montreal’s third aim with the additional man in 21 alternatives, together with an 0-for-11 skid throughout two losses to Toronto, final Friday and Saturday, on the Bell Centre.

Dach’s aim, late within the second interval, got here whereas the Canadiens have been short-handed.

Don’t assume for a second Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis received’t remind his prices of what transpired on this evening come Oct. 11, when these two groups open the common season in Toronto. He’d be silly to not.

“It’s at all times good to attain on this constructing,” Suzuki instructed reporters in Toronto after the sport. “We don’t get any factors from it nevertheless it feels good to interrupt the ice like that.

“These two guys (Norlinder and Kovacevic) have been taking part in actually good and it’s good to see them get rewarded. Any time you get offence from the defence it helps rather a lot. It’s our job to get in entrance of the web and get some good screens. I assumed we did a fairly good job of that tonight.”

With the beginning of the season barely greater than every week away, each groups’ rosters have been liberally filled with veterans. The Leafs, in search of their eighth consecutive playoff berth, dressed their huge 4 — captain John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander.

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Tavares paced Toronto with two objectives, whereas Matthews and Nylander every contributed an help. Matthews, who now has double-duty as a penalty killer, was everywhere in the ice, producing eight photographs. Noah Gregor and former Canadien Max Domi scored the Leafs’ different objectives.

Whereas Montreal dressed lots of its regulars, St. Louis additionally gave rookie defenceman Logan Mailloux a 3rd sport on the blue line with Jordan Harris as his accomplice. Mailloux, who has the scale and offensive expertise to ultimately grow to be a productive participant — though he nonetheless requires grooming in his personal zone — performed almost 19 minutes in what may need been his closing audition. He had two hits and one shot.

Allen performed your complete sport for the Canadiens, dealing with 29 photographs. Whereas his save share was an unflattering .862, and he was overwhelmed on the primary shot he confronted greater than seven minutes in — a smooth aim by Gregor — he made quite a few key saves to maintain Montreal within the sport when it appeared the Leafs have been on the precipice of taking management.

Amongst Allen’s finest was one on Matthews, within the 14th minute of the second interval, whereas Toronto was short-handed. Allen additionally made a scintillating cease on Sam Lafferty within the twelfth minute of the third, maintaining the rating 3-2 for the Leafs.

The Canadiens have the break day on Tuesday and can hit the ice early Wednesday for observe earlier than taking a bus to Mont-Tremblant for 2 days of exercises and a few workforce bonding. Montreal’s closing exhibition sport is Saturday evening, at Ottawa.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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