VAN@MTL: Game Recap

MONTREAL - The Canadiens posted a 5-4 shootout win over the Canucks on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.

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The Habs sported their Reverse Retro jerseys for the final regular season meeting between the two teams.

Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme made a few lineup changes for the contest. Winger Artturi Lehkonen returned because Tyler Toffoli was sidelined with a lower-body injury. It was Lehknone's first appearance since March 13. He was a healthy scratch for the previous three encounters.
Meanwhile, Victor Mete replaced Xavier Ouellet on defense. It was also Mete's first game since March 13 against the Calgary Flames.

For his part, goaltender Carey Price was back between the pipes after being given the night off on Friday.

The Canadiens opened the scoring just 6:26 into the first period on the power play.
Centerman Nick Suzuki beat goaltender Braden Holtly with a wrist shot from the circle to put Montreal ahead 1-0.

It was Suzuki's second power play goal in as many nights.
Jonathan Drouin and Shea Weber collected the assists on Suzuki's seventh tally of the year.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes. The Habs led 10-2 in the shots department.
Vancouver tied things up just 22 seconds into the second period.
Centerman J.T. Miller jumped on a defensive zone turnover by Suzuki and fed Jake Virtanen in the slot, who beat Price.

It was Virtanen's fourth goal of the year.
The Canucks took the lead for the first time in the contest at the 8:08 mark of the frame.
With defenseman Brett Kulak in the penalty box, right-winger Brock Boeser's one-timer got the best of Price to make 2-1 for Vancouver.

It was Boeser's team-leading 16th goal of the season.
Tomas Tatar tied things up for the Canadiens with 6:16 left in the stanza. The 30-year-old Slovak solved Holtby with a shot from the slot.

It was his sixth goal of the season, and he snapped an 11-game goal drought in the process.
Phillip Danault and Mete collected helpers on the play. It was Mete's first point of the year.
Montreal took a 3-2 lead with 1:37 left before the break.
Defenseman Joel Edmundson's wrist shot found a path through traffic and beat Holtby.

It was Edmundson's second goal of the season, and his first since January 23 against the Canucks, snapping a 24-game goal drought.
Weber picked up his second assist of the night, while Tatar was credited with the other helper to reach the 20-point plateau.
That's the way things stood after 40 minutes. The Canadiens also held a 22-12 advantage in shots.
Vancouver struck again with 22 seconds elapsed in the third period to make it 3-3.
Captain Bo Horvat deflected a point shot by defenseman Quinn Hughes for his 14th goal of the season.

Just 33 seconds later, the Canucks pulled in front.
Forward Tyler Motte had plenty of time to beat Price with a wrist shot from close range.

It was Motte's sixth goal of the season.
The Canadiens made it 4-4 at the 5:29 mark of the period. Danault won a key offensive zone faceoff that led to a Brendan Gallagher snipe.

It was Gallagher's 12th goal of the year.
For his part, Danault collected his second assist of the night on the play.
No goals were scored in overtime, so a shootout was required.
Corey Perry and Tatar scored in the shootout to secure the victory for Montreal.

Price made 14 saves to earn the win.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Monday night at the Bell Centre when they open a three-game set against the Edmonton Oilers.