MTL@VGK: Game 2 Recap

LAS VEGAS - The Canadiens posted a 3-2 victory over the Golden Knights on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena, evening the series at 1-1.

SHOP: CHic Playoff Line
Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme made a pair of lineup changes on defense heading into the contest.
Jeff Petry and Jon Merrill returned to the lineup, replacing Brett Kulak and Alexander Romanov.
Petry missed two games due to injury and hadn't played since Game 3 of the second-round series against Winnipeg on June 6.
Merrill, meanwhile, missed seven games due to injury and hadn't played since Game 5 of the first-round series against Toronto on May 27.

Even though the Canadiens were just over 4,100 km from home, there was no shortage of support in the stands for Ducharme's contingent.
As per usual, the Habs faithful always travels well, no matter where the team is playing.

They were rewarded with the first goal of the encounter courtesy of winger Joel Armia at the 6:12 mark of the first period.
The 28-year-old Finn pounced on a loose puck in front of Golden Knights starter Marc-André Fleury and buried his fifth goal of the playoffs.
It was also his 10th career postseason tally.

Defenseman Joel Edmundson and winger Corey Perry were credited with assists.
The Canadiens doubled their lead 10 minutes later courtesy of winger Tyler Toffoli.
The 29-year-old sniper beat Fleury on a one-timer from the slot off a tape-to-tape feed from rookie Cole Caufield.
It was Toffoli's fifth goal of the playoffs, and he extended his point streak to eight straight games on the play.

Caufield, meanwhile, extended his point streak to four consecutive games.
Petry was credited with the secondary helper on the sequence.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes. Montreal was leading 12-4 in shots at the break.
Carey Price made his presence felt early in the second period.
The 14-year veteran made a remarkable sprawling stop on defenseman Alec Martinez to preserve the Canadiens' 2-0 advantage.

Winger Paul Byron put Montreal up by three with 2:15 left in the stanza.
The 32-year-old Ottawa native beat Fleury on a breakaway with a highlight-reel backhand maneuver for his second goal of the playoffs.

Edmundson and centreman Jesperi Kotkaniemi assisted on the tally.
Unfortunately, Vegas answered back just 61 seconds later to cut the Canadiens' lead to 3-1.
Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo's wrist shot from the point beat Price through traffic.

It was his second goal of the playoffs.
Winger Keegan Kolesar collected the lone helper on the play.
That's the way things stood after 40 minutes. Montreal was leading 16-14 in shots at the break.
Pietrangelo struck again with 5:14 left in regulation to bring the Golden Knights to within one.
The veteran blueliner solved Price with a snapshot from the circle for his third goal of the postseason.

Forwards Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson assisted on the marker.
That's the way this one finished.
Price made 29 saves to record the win.

Game 3 will be played on Friday night at the Bell Centre.
Puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.