VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Juraj Slafkovsky had an impressive performance, scoring a goal and providing two assists in the Montreal Canadiens’ 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.
The Canadiens saw contributions from Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, who both recorded a goal and an assist, while Mike Matheson capped the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute. Montreal’s goaltender, Sam Montembault, was solid in net, making 29 saves, which helped propel the team to their sixth win in their last eight outings (6-1-1). This victory also allowed them to tie with Boston and the New York Rangers, trailing just behind Columbus for an Eastern Conference wild card spot.
On the Canucks side, Filip Hronek managed a goal and an assist, and Elias Pettersson found the back of the net as well. Vancouver’s Kevin Lankinen stopped 23 shots in goal, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win as the Canucks’ offensive challenges continued.
As the game wound down with Vancouver down 3-2, they pulled goaltender Lankinen for an extra skater in hopes of leveling the score. However, the Canadiens’ defense stood firm and prevented any goals. With just 17 seconds remaining, Matheson secured the win with an empty-net goal.
Key takeaways from the game highlight Vancouver’s ongoing offensive struggles, as they haven’t netted more than three goals in their last 15 games, a streak beginning from their victory in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Montreal’s top line has been excelling post the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off break. Suzuki has accumulated five goals and ten assists, Caufield added six goals and three assists, and Slafkovsky contributed four goals and four assists.
A pivotal moment of the match occurred midway through the second period. Slafkovsky intercepted a loose puck, swiftly passed it up ice to Suzuki, who then advanced and assisted Caufield for a backhand tap-in, marking his 32nd goal of the season. This gave the Canadiens a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Interestingly, the Canucks remain the only team in the NHL without a third-period comeback this season, with a current record of 0-19-4 when trailing after the second period.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens are set to visit Seattle on Wednesday, while the Canucks will face off against Calgary.
