Habs edge Avs, break 3-game skid

Field Level Media|published: Mon 15th January, 22:07 2024

Jan 15, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson (42) defends the puck against Montreal Canadiens left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) during the first period at Bell Centre. credits: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Joel Armia scored the tiebreaking goal with 4:10 remaining and the Montreal Canadiens held on for a 4-3 win against the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Monday night.

Armia battled four Colorado players for possession of the puck in front of the Avalanche goal before scoring with a diving backhand.

Cole Caufield had a goal and an assist, Juraj Slafkovsky and Rafael Harvey-Pinard also scored, Nick Suzuki had two assists and Jake Allen made 32 saves for the Canadiens, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, Ross Colton and Devon Toews also scored and Alexandar Georgiev made 30 saves for the Avalanche, who had won three in a row.

The Avalanche went on an early power play and Colton scored off a rebound of his own shot with the man advantage for a 1-0 lead at 4:28 of the first period.

The Canadiens also scored on their first power play, as Slafkovsky deposited a wrist shot past Allen to tie it 1-1 at 7:17 of the first.

Makar scored on a one-timer from inside the blue line at 1:01 of the second period to move Colorado back ahead 2-1.

It was the 75th career NHL goal for Makar, tying him with Tyson Barrie for the most in franchise history by a defenseman.

Nathan MacKinnon assisted on the goal to stretch his point streak to eight games (four goals, 10 assists).

Colorado was unable to take advantage of a 35-second five-on-three power play, and Harvey-Pinard tied it 2-2 at 16:08 of the second.

Harvey-Pinard received a pass from Jake Evans while cutting through the right circle. His initial shot was saved, but he pushed the loose puck through the pads of Georgiev for his first goal of the season.

The Canadiens moved ahead 3-2 with a power-play goal at 1:52 of the third period.

Suzuki passed the puck to Caufield at the bottom of the left circle, and Caufield turned to face the net before scoring on the far side.

Montreal scored on both of its power plays in the game.

Toews tied it 3-3 at 9:37 with a one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Mikko Rantanen.

—Field Level Media

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