Canucks rebound from loss to beat Canadiens 5-2, improve to 11-3-1
Vancouver Canucks' Conor Garland (8) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen, top, during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
MONTREAL — Conor Garland, Dakota Joshua and Brock Boeser each had a goal and an assist and the Vancouver Canucks rebounded from a loss the night before to beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Sunday.
Ilya Mikheyev and Phillip Di Giuseppe also scored and Casey DeSmith made 30 saves to help Vancouver — a 5-2 loser in Toronto on Saturday night — improve to 11-3-1.
“I liked the response,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “I thought it was a really good game, a 200-foot game by everybody.”
Vancouver acquired DeSmith from Vancouver in September.
“Good teams come out after a loss and play well, and I thought we did that tonight,” DeSmith said. “I thought we defended hard, and I think we’ve been doing that all year.
Filip Hronek had an assist to become the fourth Vancouver defenseman with a double-digit points streak. NHL points leader Elias Pettersson was held off the scoresheet to end his eight-game streak.
Mike Matheson and Arber Xhekaj scored for Montreal, a night after the Canadiens beat Boston 3-2 in overtime at home. Jake Allen made 31 saves.
Vancouver Canucks' Ilya Mikheyev (65) celebrates with teammates Andrei Kuzmenko (96) and Elias Pettersson (40) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
After a slow first period, the Canucks poured it on in the second.
Garland opened the scoring at 6:15 of the second, tipping in a centering pass from J.T. Miller with his backhand.
Montreal’s Christian Dvorak appeared to answer under two minutes later with a wrist shot from the high slot that beat DeSmith. However, the play was ruled offside after a coach’s challenge.
Mikheyev added to the lead at 9:17 after walking into the Montreal zone and firing a shot past Allen, who lost his stick moments earlier.
Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller (9) moves in against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Credit: AP/Graham Hughes
Joshua made it 3-0 with two minutes left in the period. He scored off a rebound after multiple shots from Garland.
“It’s tough when you give up three in a period,” Allen said. “One goal is easier to come back from than three, it was definitely not as sharp as the last couple of nights.”
UP NEXT
Canucks: Host New York Islanders on Wednesday night.
Canadiens: Host Calgary on Tuesday night.
