Kirby Dach scored two goals as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 at Bell Center on Wednesday.
Nick Suzuki, Arber Xhekaj and Dach gave Montreal (7-6-1) a three-goal lead in the first period. Mike Hoffman also scored, his third in two nights.
Samuel Montembeault made 30 saves for the win.
Luke Schenn and Nils Hoglander responded with a third-quarter comeback attempt for Vancouver (4-7-3).
Thatcher Demko had a tough night in the Canucks’ net, stopping 22 shots.
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– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 10, 2022
The Canadiens scored in the power play just 55 seconds into the game. Suzuki tapped a shot and instantly made the Canucks, the league’s worst free throw efficiency, pay for Tanner Pearson’s hook shot.
Xhekaj scored his second goal of the season when his wrist flicked off Pearson and into the net, with another shot from Montreal to double their lead.
Dach added the Canadiens’ third goal when he stole the puck from JT Miller in the Vancouver area and beat Demko to give Montreal an easy 3-0 lead at the first half.
Hoffman gave the Canadiens a four-goal lead in the second quarter. He outpaced Jack Rathbone and gave himself enough space to beat Demko with his wrist. Hoffman also scored two goals in Montreal’s 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.
Vancouver finally got on the scoreboard at 4:46 of the third quarter. A slap from Schenn whizzed through the traffic and beat Montembeault.
Hoagland jumped on Montebo’s rebound and conceded his first goal of the season, reducing the Canucks’ deficit to two goals.
Vancouver found themselves in the power game shortly after Hoagland’s goal and struck twice at the post.
Dach ended the game when Suzuki found him passing the ball across the ice alone. The 22-year-old took him home with a wrist shot in the second game of the night.
Horvath’s winning streak ends
The Bo Horvat craze is over in Montreal. Horvath has at least one point in his last five games and at least six goals in his last four. During that streak, the center totaled eight goals and two assists.
Suzuki roll
Nick Suzuki scored his sixth goal since Oct. 29, just seven behind Buffalo Sabres center Taj Thompson in that stretch. Suzuki now tied Brandon Gallagher for the second-highest spot in Canadiens history with his third opening-time goal. Only Max Pacioretty (five) has more in franchise history.
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The Canadiens will continue their three home games on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Canucks travel to Toronto on Saturday to visit the Maple Leafs.
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