EDM@MTL: Game Recap

MONTREAL - The Canadiens were winless in five straight games down the stretch after falling 4-3 in overtime to the Oilers at the Bell Centre on Wednesday.

It was the 56th and final regular season game for Montreal.

Since the squad had already clinched a playoff spot, interim head coach Dominique Ducharme made several lineup changes to give some veterans a rest.
Forwards Tyler Toffoli, Josh Anderson and Eric Staal didn't dress. Neither did veteran defensemen Jeff Petry and Joel Edmundson.
Alex Belzile, Michael Frolik, Xavier Ouellet and Erik Gustafsson suited up in their absence.

For his part, right-winger Jesse Ylönen made his NHL debut.
The former second-round selection of the Canadiens in 2018 (35th overall) amassed 17 points (9 goals, 8 assists) in 26 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket this season.

Goaltender Cayden Primeau made his fourth start of the year for Montreal, while Charlie Lindgren served as his backup.

Montreal opened the scoring just 1:58 into the first period courtesy of rookie Cole Caufield.
The 20-year-old right-winger capitalized on a turnover in the Oilers' zone, beating goaltender Mike Smith five-hole.

It was Caufield's fourth goal of the year.
The Oilers tied things up 1-1 at the 8:35 mark of the stanza.
Right-winger Alex Chiasson's shot deflected off Jake Evans' stick before beating Primeau.

It was Chiasson's ninth goal of the season.
Things didn't remain that way for long, though.
Only 1:23 later, Nick Suzuki lit the lamp on a 2-on-1 while the Habs were short-handed, solving Smith with a wrist shot.

It was the 21-year-old centreman's 14th goal of the season, setting a new career-high.
Suzuki also became the third Canadiens player this year to reach the 40-point plateau, joining Toffoli (44 points) and Petry (42 points).
It was the Habs' ninth short-handed goal of the season too.
Dave Tippett's contingent responded 55 seconds later on the power play.
Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins beat a screened Primeau to tie things up 2-2.
It was his 16th goal of the year.

Captain Connor McDavid and defenseman Tyson Barrie collected the assists on the sequence.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes. Edmonton led 9-8 in shots.
The Oilers took the lead for the first time in the game at the 10:47 mark of the second period on the power play.
Unmarked in the slot, centreman Leon Draisaitl essentially had an empty net to shoot at while players sought the loose puck.

It was Draisaitl's 31st goal of the season.
Edmonton led 3-2 after 40 minutes. Montreal, however, held a 17-16 advantage in shots.
Montreal scored the equalizer at the 8:22 mark of the third period.
Suzuki buried a feed from Caufield to make it 3-3.

Suzuki's second goal of the contest enabled him to match his haul of 41 points from last year.
For his part, Caufield collected his first career assist in the NHL ranks.
Overtime was required to settle this one.
Dominik Kahun scored the game-winning goal just 27 seconds into the extra frame to give the Oilers the victory.

Primeau made 18 saves in the loss.
The Canadiens should begin their playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs next week.
It will be the first postseason matchup between the two teams since 1979.