Canadiens top Canucks 4-2 behind Slafkovsky’s three-point night
Juraj Slafkovsky recorded a goal and two assists as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each contributed a goal and an assist, while Mike Matheson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Sam Montembault stopped 29 shots for the Canadiens, who have won six of their last eight games (6-1-1).
The win pulls Montreal into a tie with Boston and the New York Rangers, just two points behind Columbus for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Filip Hronek scored a goal and added an assist for Vancouver, with Elias Pettersson also finding the net. Kevin Lankinen made 23 saves in the losing effort.
Vancouver made a late push to tie the game, pulling Lankinen for an extra attacker with under two minutes remaining. Montreal’s defense held firm before Matheson scored into the empty net with 17 seconds left.
The Canucks’ offense has struggled significantly in recent weeks. Vancouver hasn’t scored more than three goals in any game since January 29, when they beat the St. Louis Blues 5-2.
Montreal’s top line has been dominant since returning from the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off break. Suzuki has recorded 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists) in eight games, while Caufield has added 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists). Slafkovsky has contributed 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) during that span.
The game’s turning point came midway through the second period when Slafkovsky intercepted a loose puck and quickly passed it up ice to Suzuki. The Canadiens’ captain drove forward before finding Caufield, who tapped in his team-leading 32nd goal of the season at 8:59, giving Montreal a 3-0 lead.
Vancouver remains the only NHL team without a third-period comeback this season. The Canucks are now 0-19-4 when trailing after the second period.
The Canadiens visit Seattle on Wednesday, while the Canucks travel to Calgary for their next game.
___
