Patrik Laine's power-play strike lifts Habs over Red Wings

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st December, 24:02 2024

NHL: Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings

Dec 20, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (92) handles the puck during the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Patrik Laine scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 7:58 remaining as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the host Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Friday.

Montreal's Jake Evans scored a short-handed goal and added an assist in his 300th career game. Emil Heineman also had a goal and an assist, while Arber Xhekaj scored his first goal of the season. Sam Montembeault made 25 saves for the win.

Patrick Kane, Joe Veleno and Tyler Motte scored for Detroit and Michael Rasmussen had two assists. Cam Talbot made 29 saves.

The teams will complete the home-and-home set in Montreal on Saturday night.

With Veleno in the penalty box, Montreal took the lead for good with about eight minutes to go. Laine's shot from the left side broke defenseman Moritz Seider's stick and slipped past Talbot's glove. All of Laine's seven goals this season have come on power plays.

Heineman scored from just outside the left circle at 7:09 of the first period when his shot skittered through Talbot's pads.

Midway through the period, Evans seemingly had a wide-open net, but Seider stuck out his stick and deflected his shot to keep it a one-goal game.

A Montreal turnover in its own zone led to the tying goal. Kane took a shot from a tough angle on the left side that elevated over Montembeault's right shoulder at 13:27 of the first period.

In a bizarre play on a Red Wings power play, the puck rolled up the back of the Canadiens' net, landed on Montembeault's neck and stayed in place. During the same power play, Evans stole the puck from Lucas Raymond at center ice, skated into Detroit's zone and beat Talbot for a short-handed goal at 18:31 of the first.

The Red Wings tied it in the final minute of the period. Jeff Petry took a shot from the point and Veleno tipped it into the net. Rasmussen also had an assist.

Motte gave the Red Wings a 3-2 lead 1:40 into the third off a slick backhanded pass from Rasmussen. It was his second goal of the season.

Xhekaj's goal on a shot from the left circle tied it at 8:42 of the final period.

--Field Level Media

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