MONTREAL — Mikhail Sergachev clinched the game with an overtime goal as the Utah Hockey Club triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Sergachev found the net with just 27 seconds remaining in the extra session, connecting with a pass from Nick Schmaltz to secure the victory. Jack McBain and Dylan Guenther contributed to the scoreboard for Utah, while Karel Vejmelka made 11 stops in goal.
On the Montreal side, Alex Newhook and Jayden Struble were the scorers in a match that marked their second consecutive loss following a heavy 6-2 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Goaltender Sam Montembeault was credited with 26 saves during the game.
The scoring began in the second period when Guenther, capitalizing on a cross-ice assist from Clayton Keller, netted his tenth goal of the season at 6:23. This goal came immediately after Utah’s fourth power play had concluded.
Struble, who was a late addition to the lineup due to Mike Matheson being sidelined with a lower-body injury, responded for Montreal at 8:05, leveling the game 1-1. The defenseman fired a powerful shot that hit the crossbar before entering the net, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Montreal took a brief lead in the third period when Newhook converted a loose puck into his fifth goal of the season just 46 seconds in. However, Utah leveled the score at 4:17, with McBain finding the back of the net thanks to a setup from Logan Cooley, marking his eighth goal of the year.
Key observations from the game include the Canadiens’ struggle with penalties, often being a man down in the first half of the match while killing off four penalties.
For Utah, rookie Maveric Lamoureux made an impression by playing his 15th NHL game, and notably his first in front of friends and family back in Montreal. The young 20-year-old from Quebec faced numerous reporters following the morning skate.
A critical moment in the match was McBain’s goal, which disrupted Montreal’s momentum and ultimately forced the game into overtime. This goal marked McBain’s sixth in just nine games.
In terms of statistics, it is worth mentioning that the Canadiens managed only 30 shots over their last two games, while Utah outshot them 14-5 in the first period and 8-3 in the second.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens are set to embark on a three-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Utah will prepare to face the Edmonton Oilers at home on Friday.