Suzuki leads Canadiens over Oilers

EDMONTON — Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists as the Montreal Canadiens remained hot of late, defeating the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 on Saturday.

Brendan Gallagher and Cole Caufield each had a goal and an assist. Artturi Lehkonen and Mike Hoffman also scored for the Canadiens (15-34-7), who have won seven of their last eight games.

Chris Wideman chipped in two assists and goalie Sam Montembeault made 28 saves.

Evander Kane and Ryan McLeod replied for the Oilers (30-22-4), who have dropped two straight. Mike Smith stopped 24 shots.

Montreal started the scoring 11 minutes in when Caufield capitalized on an odd-man rush, sending a wrist shot past Smith for his eighth of the season. It was the 37th time in the last 47 games that Edmonton has allowed the game’s first goal.

However, the Oilers erased that lead just 22 seconds later as Leon Draisaitl made a great feed to Kane in front and he spun around and beat Montembeault for his eighth goal in 17 games since signing with Edmonton, and third in his last two games.

Montreal surged back ahead with 39 seconds left in the opening period as Gallagher ended an 18-game goalless drought by scoring on a power play rebound opportunity.

Edmonton knotted the game back up five minutes into the middle frame as McLeod tucked in a rebound from a tough angle. The goal survived a review as Montreal argued that Zach Hyman had interfered with Montembeault on the play.

The Habs then had a goal of their own by Suzuki called back due to an offside call, but then Suzuki scored again on the same power play, his 13th, to make it 3-2.

Montreal had what would have been a short-handed goal by Laurent Dauphin called back with seven minutes left in the second period on yet another offside call.

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