National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Montreal 5, Edmonton 3
When: 9:30 PM ET, Thursday, March 8, 2012
Where: Rexall Place, Edmonton, Alberta
Referees: Dean Morton, Kevin Pollock
Linesmen: Dan Schachte, Jay Sharrers
Attendance: 16839

CANADIENS 5, OILERS 3: Max Pacioretty scored two goals and set up another as Montreal halted a four-game road losing streak with a triumph over Edmonton.

P.K. Subban recorded a goal and two assists, fellow defenseman Tomas Kaberle and Lars Eller also tallied and Peter Budaj made 24 saves for the Canadiens, who are 1-1-0 on their four-game road trip.

Kaberle atoned for an earlier miscue three minutes into the third period with his third goal of the season. Rene Bourque's backhand shot from the right side was blocked, but the puck went directly to Kaberle, who beat Nikolai Khabibulin from the left of the crease to snap a 2-2 tie.

Eller added a much-needed insurance goal just over two minutes later when he banked the puck off Khabibulin and in from behind the net for his third tally in four games.

Taylor Hall made things interesting later in the third with his 24th goal, but Pacioretty scored into an empty net in the final minute to cap his second straight two-goal performance.

Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff opened the scoring with a power-play goal with just under eight minutes remaining in the first period. But Subban answered during a man advantage with 17 seconds left in the session with a one-timer from the blue line for his third goal in six matches.

Pacioretty put Montreal ahead two minutes into the second, banging his own rebound past Khabibulin from the doorstep after Scott Gomez was denied on a wrap attempt at the right post. The goal capped Pacioretty's third two-point performance in four games.

Linus Omark tied the contest less than five minutes later as he intercepted Kaberle's backhand pass attempt above the slot and beat Peter Budaj with a long wrist shot.

Khabibulin stopped 26 shots for the Oilers, who have dropped four of five overall and seven of eight at home.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Edmonton failed to earn at least one point for the first time in 10 meetings with Montreal (6-1-3). ... Subban has collected six points over his last four contests. ... Omark's tally was his first in two games since being recalled from Oklahoma City of the AHL. ... Pacioretty has scored five goals in his last four matches.
Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Edmonton
Max Pacioretty 3 Points Taylor Hall 1
Max Pacioretty 2 Goals Taylor Hall 1
P.K Subban 2 Assists Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1
P.K Subban 1 Power Play Goals Shawn Horcoff 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Peter Budaj .889 Save Percentage Nikolai Khabibulin .867
Peter Budaj 24 Saves Nikolai Khabibulin 26
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 31 5 2-4 3-4 8 29
Edmonton 27 3 1-4 2-4 8 32
Upcoming Games
  • Edmonton will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Oilers have a W/L % of .346 after a win and .415 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Vancouver. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .385 after a win and .381 after a loss.