EDM@MTL: Game Recap

MONTREAL - The Canadiens fell 4-3 in overtime to the Oilers on Monday night at the Bell Centre, but still clinched a playoff berth.

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Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme welcomed Paul Byron back into the lineup for the first time since April 23.
The 32-year-old left-winger missed nine games with a lower-body injury.

Jake Evans opened the scoring for the Canadiens at the 9:32 mark of the first period.
The 24-year-old centreman capped a rush into Oilers territory with a highlight-reel move on Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse before burying a wrist shot past goaltender Mikko Koskinen.

Evans' third goal of the season - his first since January 21 - was assisted by wingers Artturi Lehkonen and Byron.
It was the 200th point of Byron's career.
Veteran James Neal scored the equalizer for Edmonton just 20 seconds later, though.
The 33-year-old left-winger corralled a loose puck in front of goaltender Jake Allen and lit the lamp for his fifth goal of the year.

Forwards Ryan McLeod and Alex Chiasson collected the assists.
The Oilers took a 2-1 lead when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins beat a helpless Allen at the 13:29 mark of the frame.
Left unmarked on the tail end of a passing play, Nugent-Hopkins had little trouble scoring his 15th goal of the season.

Forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Leon Draisaitl assisted on the tally.
It was Draisaitl's 50th assist of the year. He extended his point streak to six consecutive games.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes. Edmonton was outshooting Montreal 13-9.
Byron tied things up 2-2 for the Canadiens with a power play goal at the 5:56 mark of the second period.
The Ottawa native was the recipient of a perfect feed from Lehkonen in front of Koskinen, and he beat the Finnish netminder with a backhander for his fifth goal of the year.

Evans also assisted on Byron's snipe.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid made his presence felt when he mystified left-winger Tomas Tatar with a maneuver before finding a wide open Dominik Kahun, who put Edmonton ahead 3-2.
Kahun's eighth goal of the season, which came at the 9:26 mark of the stanza, was also assisted by defenseman Caleb Jones.

It was McDavid's League-leading 69th assist of the year, and he extended his point streak to six games on the sequence.
The Habs trailed by one after 40 minutes. The Oilers were leading 26-18 in shots at the break.
Lehkonen scored the game-tying goal for the Canadiens with 6:56 remaining in regulation, solving Koskinen with a wrist shot from the wing.
It was the 25-year-old Finn's seventh goal of the season and his second tally in the last three games.

Evans collected his second assist of the night and his third point as well.
Defenseman Ben Chiarot picked up a helper too.
Overtime was required to determine a winner.
McDavid secured the 4-3 victory for Edmonton with a breakaway snipe at the 2:42 mark of the extra frame.

It was his 33rd goal of the season.
Draisaitl picked up the assist.
Allen finished the game with 31 saves for Montreal.

The Canadiens will close out the regular season on Wednesday with a rematch against the Oilers at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.