In an exhilarating matchup, the Montreal Canadiens emerged victorious in a 4-3 shootout win against the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre. The win was particularly significant for the Canadiens, as they rebounded from a recent 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Sam Montembeault was the standout performer for Montreal (17-17-5), making 45 saves, including a critical stop during the shootout. Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher praised the game’s atmosphere and Montembeault’s key contributions. Montembeault himself expressed satisfaction with his performance, especially in thwarting Mika Zibanejad’s shootout attempt.
The Rangers (26-10-2), led by Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, each with a goal and an assist, displayed resilience by erasing a three-goal deficit. Jonathan Quick made 27 saves for New York, which has experienced a slight dip in form with three losses in their last five games.
Montreal opened the scoring with Gallagher’s goal in the first period, followed by Sean Monahan and Joel Armia extending the lead to 3-0 in the second period. The Rangers then mounted a comeback, with Trocheck and Panarin narrowing the gap in the second period, and Adam Fox tying the game in the third.
New York coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the team’s character in fighting back into the game, while Fox expressed a mix of disappointment and pride in the team’s effort to secure a point.
Notable performances included Gallagher’s first goal since November 11 and Panarin’s ongoing seven-game point streak, with 12 points in total. Trocheck also continued his strong form with nine points in his past four games.
This win for the Canadiens not only showcased their resilience and ability to bounce back but also highlighted Montembeault’s impressive goaltending. The Rangers, despite the loss, demonstrated their fighting spirit, making for an exciting and closely contested game.
