Jake Allen comes up massive in web as Canadiens edge Capitals 3-2

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Maybe Jake Allen ought to go 10 days between each begin within the Canadiens web?

The veteran goaltender was large in Montreal’s 3-2 additional time victory in opposition to the Washington Capitals on Saturday night time on the Bell Centre. Allen stopped 31 pictures — many harmful — for a formidable .939 save share. Spectators had been chanting his title within the third interval and he was chosen the sport’s first star.

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And, maybe most significantly, he thwarted Caps captain Alex Ovechkin, held to 1 help regardless of directing 5 pictures at Allen. Ovechkin, off to a gradual begin this season with two assists, was held and not using a shot in consecutive video games for the primary time in his profession earlier than Washington’s arrival in Montreal.

The Canadiens appeared answerable for the competition, main 2-0 effectively into the ultimate interval, earlier than Dylan Strome scored each of the Caps’ objectives, together with the equalizer with 2:01 remaining in regulation time.

Cole Caufield, along with his third aim this season, produced the winner 40 seconds into additional time on the Canadiens’ solely shot.

“We’re going to be on the opposite finish of that generally,” Allen mentioned. “It’s league and errors occur. We’re going to study from them, however we discovered a method to get this one accomplished. It was an important shot by Cole. The fellows performed effectively.”

Allen was making his second begin this season, having final performed in Montreal’s Oct. 11 season-opening 6-5 additional time loss at Toronto, when he wasn’t at his greatest. However there was no rust on the 33-year-old in opposition to Washington.

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Amongst his higher stops was a two-on-one in opposition to Connor McMichael within the first interval. He denied Nicklas Backstrom from the lip of the crease on a Washington power-play later within the interval. Allen made a toe save on Evgeny Kuznetsov within the second and had some luck on his facet as effectively — Sonny Milano hitting the publish within the third. There was nothing Allen might do on both of Strome’s objectives.

“I wished to get off to begin,” Allen mentioned. “I felt my recreation in Toronto was one step. I wish to try to maintain making steps. It’s not going to be excellent on a regular basis. It was vital to have recreation (Saturday) and the blokes responded effectively for me and performed effectively. They performed the suitable means. I do know we let a pair in within the third there, however I believe the sport rewarded us for the way in which we performed.”

Whereas the Canadiens weren’t nice on the facility play, they did rating as soon as in six alternatives — the aim coming from Sean Monahan, his second this season, late within the first interval. Brendan Gallagher scored his first aim of the marketing campaign halfway by the second.

The Canadiens additionally killed off 5 Caps’ energy performs.

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It was a typical Gallagher aim. Not solely did he crash the online, changing a rebound, he really ended up within the web after scoring. And he appeared relieved skating again to the bench, as if a weight had been eliminated.

“I used to be simply glad to attain,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter what number of years you’ve performed; it’s enjoyable to attain. It was good to keep away from the crossbar and good to keep away from the goalie. Fortunately, the puck went in.”

When he wasn’t speaking about himself and his aim, Gallagher was singing Allen’s praises.

“He was excellent,” he mentioned. “He made some excellent saves. There clearly was some good components in our recreation, and there’s some stuff we now have to work on. However he was incredible tonight.”

Whereas Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki continues to be looking for his first aim this season, he produced two assists, sending nifty passes to Monahan and Caufield on their objectives.

Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis raised some eyebrows on Thursday when he admitted he wished to see extra from Suzuki, whereas shortly admitting he wasn’t involved this early within the season.

“I don’t wish to lie,” St. Louis mentioned. “I do know generally (the media) asks onerous questions. I gained’t lie. It’s not like I used to be saying one thing that he doesn’t assume. I wasn’t doing that to spark (Suzuki). I’ll by no means use the media to spark my gamers.”

After taking just one minor by two durations, Washington took an unimaginable 5 penalties within the third, twice being left two-men brief. Had the Canadiens scored on a type of benefits, it’s unlikely additional time would have been required. It additionally marked the second time this season Montreal has squandered a two-goal lead within the fiinal interval.

The Canadiens concluded their three-game homestand with two victories, bettering to 2-1-1. Montreal performs 4 video games in six nights subsequent week, starting Monday at Buffalo.

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