Canadiens Fall 3-2 in OT to Utah, Mark Lowest Shot Total in 15 Years

Summary:

• The Montreal Canadiens fell 3-2 in overtime to Utah on Tuesday.
• The Canadiens only managed 13 shots, their lowest since 2009. 
• Mikhail Sergachev won the game for Utah (9-10-3) in the overtime. 

The Montreal Canadiens dropped a tight live hockey game against the Utah Hockey Club, falling 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday. 

Despite their defensive effort, the main issue was their inability to generate shots, finishing with just 13 attempts on goal. 

The number marked their lowest tally since December 7, 2009, when they managed the same number but secured a win over Philadelphia.

Tuesday’s result was different, as Mikhail Sergachev sealed the game for Utah (9-10-3) in the extra frame. 

Martin St. Louis: “It’s Not Enough, That’s for Sure”

The Canadiens (7-11-3) struggled offensively, a point acknowledged by head coach Martin St. Louis.

“It’s not enough, that’s for sure”, said St. Louis of the shot total. 

But I think we had 35 missed or blocked shots. We’re not a team that brings a lot of volume, but we need to generate more. It makes a difference in a game when you have more shots.

Utah dominated the shot count throughout the game, outshooting Montreal 14-5 in the first period, 8-3 in the second, 6-5 in the third, and 1-0 in overtime. 

Early penalties disrupted Montreal’s rhythm. Three infractions unfolded in the opening frame and another early in the second, leading to Utah’s Dylan Guenther opening the scoring just as a penalty expired.

Jayden Struble: “Sucks Losing.”

Defender Jayden Struble, who scored for the Canadiens, summed up the frustration:

The penalties and stuff kind of played a factor, but we’re getting closer and, I don’t know, just sucks. Sucks losing.

Alex Newhook added Montreal’s second goal, while Sam Montembeault made 26 saves. 

For Utah, Jack McBain and Sergachev found the back of the net, and Karel Vejmelka had a quiet night with just 11 saves.

Sergachev credited both teams’ styles for the low shot counts, saying,

Their team, they hold on to the puck. So it’s us, but it’s them too… good forwards that are not going to waste shots.

Next Up

The Canadiens will hit the road for three games, with Canadian sportbooks already providing latest hockey odds starting with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. 

Next in line, they will meet the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins during weekend matchups.

Defenseman Mike Matheson and forward Patrik Laine will travel with the team. Matheson missed Tuesday’s game due to a lower-body injury, while Laine has yet to play this season following a pre-season knee injury.

Homecoming for Lamoureux

Utah rookie Maveric Lamoureux, playing in front of friends and family at the Bell Centre, called the experience “overwhelming” but rewarding. 

Despite briefly leaving the game after blocking a shot, the Laval native who played his 15th NHL game, returned and completed the night, declaring, “No matter what happened, I think I was finishing that game.”

The 20-year-old said that he would have “argued with the trainers” to get back into the game, reassuring fans that his injury was not serious.