MONTREAL — Kirby Dach scored a power-play goal at 3:09 of overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Center on Monday.
Dach redirected Sean Monahan‘s pass inside the right post after Jeff Petry was penalized for cross-checking. It was his first goal with Montreal since being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 7.
“There’s no better feeling than getting your first one with a new team at home, and to boot, an overtime winner as well,” Dach said.
Nick Suzuki scored for the second straight game, Kaiden Guhle had two assists, and Sam Montembeault made 26 saves in his second straight start for Montreal (2-2-0), which had lost two straight.
“We had a really good 40 minutes. Like when [coach Martin St. Louis] came into the room after the second, that’s what he told us,” Montembeault said. “Like we were playing well, we just had to stay the course, not go into the third and try to do too much. Just keep going, keep playing the way we were playing. And it paid off, and we got a big goal at the end.”
Video: PIT@MTL: Dach’s 1st goal with Montreal wins it in OT
Evgeni Malkin scored twice, Bryan Rust had two assists, and Casey DeSmith made 36 saves in his season debut for Pittsburgh (2-0-1).
“It’s really disappointing, we didn’t like it at all in the first period,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought the second period we started to play. I thought we were probably the better team in the second period, but that’s the only period. It’s hard to win in this league when we only play one period.”
Suzuki started Montreal’s comeback by cutting it to 2-1 at 1:10 of the third period. After his initial shot from the left face-off circle trickled past DeSmith and hit the post, Suzuki skated around the net and knocked the rebound into the open net.
Guhle, who was the No. 16 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, had the primary assist on the play for his first NHL point.
Video: PIT@MTL: Drouin sets up Caufield for the equalizer
Cole Caufield then tied it 2-2 with 2:20 remaining and Montembeault pulled for an extra skater. He converted on a one-timer from below the left circle after receiving a diagonal cross-ice pass Jonathan Drouin.
“I didn’t even see the pass, and all of a sudden it’s in the back of the net,” DeSmith said.
Caufield said he was able to get open by reading the Penguins’ defense.
“You can kind of see from my spot over there where everybody is, and you just try to get lost and time it so you come to the puck at the right time,” he said. “And obviously, [Drouin] just made a [heck] of a pass. I think that one’s on him. I had the whole side of the net.”
Malkin put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0 at 3:52 of the second period, shooting across the grain on a one-timer from the right circle as Montembeault slid across the crease. He then made it 2-0 at 7:55 when he drove to the slot and converted on a rebound at the top of the crease.
“It’s a tough loss tonight, but the team, every game we play better and better,” Malkin said. “And my line, like myself, I’m trying to keep going every game. I hope (I have) no injuries again. I feel my confidence. I feel like I’m still a good player.”
Video: PIT@MTL: Malkin buries feed from Rust
NOTES: It was Malkin’s 66th multigoal game, which ranks fourth among active NHL players behind the Washington Capitals forward. Alex Ovechkin (158), Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (88) and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos (85). … Montembeault started because Jake Allen is on parental leave with his wife due to give birth to the couple’s third child.
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