Schmaltz scores twice, Coyotes edge Canadiens

TEMPE, Ariz. - - Nick Schmaltz scored a power-play goal and on a penalty shot for the Arizona Coyotes in a 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens at Mullett Arena on Thursday.

Lawson Crouse scored his third goal in two games for the Coyotes (5-4-1), who were coming off a 4-3 overtime loss at the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. Connor Ingram made 28 saves.

“We stayed under control, we were composed, we pushed through [playing on consecutive nights],” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “We found a way to make key plays, our special teams made key plays and our penalty kill was solid.”

Brendan Gallagher had a goal and an assist, and Sean Monahan scored for the fourth straight game for the Canadiens (5-3-2), who were 1-for-5 on the power play. Jake Allen made 32 saves.

“We really didn't give ourselves a shot tonight,” Gallagher said. “You're playing a good hockey team on the road, you have to play smart. They were playing a back to back and we had a real opportunity to make it a tough game on them. We didn't do that, and we paid for it.”

Schmaltz’s power-play goal gave Arizona a 3-2 lead at 6:07 of the third period. He cut to the right post and tapped in a cross-crease pass from Logan Cooley.

“As a team, we need to find a way to win these close, one-goal games,” Schmaltz said. “You want to be the guy who steps up and makes the play that matters.”

Cooley, selected No. 3 in the 2022 NHL Draft, has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 10 games in his first NHL season.

“He’s stepped up and made a difference for us,” Schmaltz said. “Night in and night out [in the NHL], it’s not easy to step in from a college schedule and play an NHL schedule, it’s hard. He’s playing really well.”

Schmaltz converted the first penalty shot of his career at 6:17 of the first period for a 1-0 lead after Montreal defenseman Justin Barron covered the puck with his glove as it was about to cross the goal line.

“I’ve never taken a penalty shot,” Schmaltz said. “It’s pretty cool. I have two or three moves I rotate [in shootouts] and I try to read the goalie, he got a piece of it but I was fortunate and it went in.”

Monahan tied it 1-1 at 7:13, picking up the puck in the neutral zone and cutting to the slot for a wrist shot. Monahan’s sixth goal of the season was his first at even strength.

Nick Suzuki appeared to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead at 15:28, but the Coyotes challenged the play and a video review determined it to be offside.

“Our execution was off in the first period, in the second period and I think we played probably 20 percent of what we played in Vegas (3-2 overtime loss Monday),” said Suzuki, the Montreal captain. I think we need to find a way to have a better start. Our power play couldn’t get one early and it was just kind of a scramble.”

Crouse scored a one-timer from the left circle to make it 2-1 at 19:21 of the second period as an Arizona power play expired.

“That line (Matias Maccelli-Nick Bjugstad-Crouse) is playing with more drive, more juice, more passion, more edge and their game has more grit. I think that's what separates them,” Tourigny said.

Gallagher scored a power-play goal from the slot off a feed from Tanner Pearson at 2:59 of the third to tie it 2-2.

“In the second period they showed us what they had, they dominated, they have a lot of speed and skill, but we still had an opportunity in this game,” Allen said. “We just weren’t as sharp tonight.”

NOTES: Canadiens forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard sustained a lower-body injury on a hit by defenseman Troy Stecher early in the second and didn’t return. ... Gallagher’s goal was his 400th NHL point. … Allen played his 400th career game, Pearson played his 600th. … Montreal has lost two straight (0-1-1) but is 4-2-1 in its past seven. … Maccelli had an assist; he has one goal and seven assists during a seven-game point streak.