MTL@EDM: Game Recap

EDMONTON - The Canadiens posted a 3-1 win over the Oilers on Monday night at Rogers Place, securing their second straight victory.

It marked the first start of the season for goaltender Jake Allen, who gave Carey Price a well-deserved break.
It was also Allen's first start in a Habs uniform after joining the fold in September via a trade with the St. Louis Blues where he'd spent his entire career to date.
The 30-year-old Fredericton, NB native was fired up to lead his new teammates onto the ice, and the boys gave him some solid encouragement in the tunnel.

Rookie Alexander Romanov struck first for the Canadiens, beating Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen with a wrist shot from the point that found its way through traffic.
The first NHL goal of the 21-year-old Russian defenseman's career came at the 9:54 mark of the first period, with Brett Kulak and Paul Byron collecting the assists on the play.

That's the way things stood after 20 minutes.
Allen was strong in between the pipes with 12 saves, and he also had some help from the Habs' penalty-killing units who held the Oilers scoreless on three power play chances.
There were no goals to report for the majority of the second period, until captain Shea Weber found the back of the with 11 seconds left before the break.
The 16-year NHL veteran collected his own rebound and banked the puck off Koskinen's back from behind the goal line and into the net.
The power play tally was Weber's first goal of the season, and the assists came courtesy of Nick Suzuki and Tyler Toffoli.

Suzuki extended his point streak to three games with the helper, while Toffoli's assist was his first point with Montreal.
The Canadiens were the more aggressive team offensively in the middle frame, outshooting Dave Tippett's squad 18-7.
Thumbs up to Josh Anderson for throwing his weight around like a champion with this monster hit on defenseman Kris Russell.

Artturi Lehkonen made it 3-0 for the Canadiens with a short-handed goal with just 7:45 left in regulation.
It was his first goal of the season and the fourth short-handed goal of his career. Jeff Petry was credited with the lone assist.

The Oilers finally got on the board when Devin Shore solved Allen with a short-handed goal of his own late in the frame, but that's all the offense Edmonton could produce.
Allen made 25 saves to earn the win.

Up next for the Canadiens is a back-to-back set against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena beginning on Wednesday night at 10:00 p.m. ET.