HABS RALLY TO UPEND CAPITALS
Kotkaniemi scores first two NHL goals
Montreal showed off some bounceback magic Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Trailing 4-3 with just over three minutes remaining, Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored his second goal of the night and then Max Domi scored with 21.1 seconds remaining to lead the Canadiens to a 6-4 win over the Washington Capitals. Joel Armia scored an emptynetter for the final goal.
The dramatic comeback came after a couple of defensive mistakes allowed the Capitals to roar back from a 3-1 deficit in the second period and they led 4-3 until Kotkaniemi delivered. The win boosted the Canadiens’ record to 7-3-2.
Brendan Gallagher put Montreal up 3-1 when he scored twice in a 2:35 span early in the second period. They were classic Gallagher goals. He was within spitting distance of goaltender Braden Holtby when he scored. The first came on a perfect feed from Tomas Tatar and the second came after Tatar’s shot hit the end boards and caromed out to Gallagher in front.
The Capitals responded with three unanswered goals before the second period was over. The comeback began when Jordie Benn was caught out of the play and Jeff Petry had to defend a 2-on-1 against Evgeni Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin, who scored the first of his two goals.
Former Canadien Lars Eller scored his second goal of the night to tie the score. Noah Juulsen failed to control the puck behind the net and Brett Connolly poked it out to Eller in the slot.
Ovechkin put the Capitals ahead at 12:53 when Dmitry Orlov’s shot from the point deflected off Ovechkin past Carey Price, for his captain’s 10th goal of the season.
The loudest ovation of the night came at 2:28 of the first period after Kotkaniemi scored his first NHL goal.
The Finnish Connection line, which had Artturi Lehkonen and Armia flanking the rookie, was given a rare defensive zone faceoff on its first shift. Kotkaniemi lost the draw to Eller, but he had the last laugh. The rookie took a pass from Armia and beat Holtby with a shot over the goaltender’s shoulder on his blocker side.
The fast pace in the first period — only five stoppages — played in the Canadiens’ favour as they outshot the Capitals 19-13 but Washington tied the score at 6:16 when Price gave up a rebound and Eller took advantage for his second goal of the season.
Holtby totally collapsed down the stretch, allowing the winning goal to pop out of his glove.
Montreal came close before Kotkaniemi tied the game in the third. Domi had a chance midway into the period when Charles Hudon put the puck through the crease, but Domi was unable to lift the puck over the fallen Holtby. Petry hit a post with 4:30 to play.
The Habs did a good job staying out of the penalty box, which is advisable when you’re facing the No. 1 power play in the NHL.