Habs storm back late to beat Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Montreal Canadiens scored four goals late in the third period Sunday to shock the hometown Edmonton Oilers 4-1 at Rogers Place Arena.
The Oilers were up 1-0 with only 6:27 left in regulation before the Habs stormed back on goals from Paul Byron and Alex Galchenyuk 1:09 apart. Byron and Max Pacioretty added empty netters to seal it.
It was the 10th time this season the Canadiens won when trailing after two periods.
The Oilers and Canadiens played to a 0-0 tie at the end of overtime in their first meeting of the season Feb. 5 in Montreal and this one followed the same script for most of the night.
Offense was very hard to come by as goaltenders Cam Talbot (37 saves) of Edmonton and Carey Price (24 saves) of Montreal were the first two stars of the game.
The Oilers scored first, moments after Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk missed a wide-open net at the other end, when Milan Lucic beat Price with a wrist shot through the five-hole at 4:17 of the second period.
Byron finally got to Talbot with 6:27 left in the third period to tie it 1-1, the Galchenyuk scored the go-ahead goal on a deflection 1:09 later. Byron and Pacioretty added the daggers into empty nets with the oilers pushing for the late equalizer.
The Oilers continue to struggle against Eastern Conference teams this season. They are 22-9-6 against the Western Conference and 13-14-3 against the East this year.
NOTES: Oilers D Darnell Nurse and Habs RW Mike McCarron had a nasty minute-long scrap early in the first period, carrying over a feud that started in Junior. ... Montreal G Cary Price and RW Alex Radulov both returned to the lineup after missing one and three games respectively with illness and a lower body injury. Price had never won a game in Edmonton before in his career. ... The Canadiens have been held to two or fewer goals in five of their last six games. ... Oilers LW Milan Lucic has three goals and two assists in his last six games after five points in his previous 13 games. ... Oilers RW Leon Draisaitl has 23 goals on the season, but just one in his last 10 games. ... LW Paul Byron's goals were his third and fourth in the last five games.