National Hockey League
Montreal 3, Arizona 2
When: 10:00 PM ET, Monday, December 19, 2022
Where: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona
Referees: Francis Charron, Brian Pochmara
Linesmen: Tyson Baker, Tommy Hughes
Attendance: 4600

Mike Hoffman scored at 1:08 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night in Tempe, Ariz.

On the winning play, Montreal entered the offensive zone on a three-on-two, and Kirby Dach fed the puck to Hoffman, who fired in the winner from between the circles.

Cole Caufield and Christian Dvorak also scored and Sam Montembeault made 37 saves for the Canadiens in the opener of a seven-game road trip.

Nick Schmaltz and Matias Maccelli scored and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves for the Coyotes, who lost their second game in a row, both at home.

The Canadiens scored 49 seconds into the second period during a delayed penalty to take a 1-0 lead. The puck caromed to Caufield and he scored his 19th goal of the season on a wrist shot from the inside edge of the right circle.

The Coyotes tied the score 35 seconds later after Montreal turned the puck over in the neutral zone, leading to an Arizona rush. Clayton Keller slid a backhand centering pass to Schmaltz, who stopped the puck with his backhand and scored with his forehand to make it 1-1.

Montreal defenseman Arber Xhekaj took a wrist shot from the left point and Dvorak deflected the puck into the net for a 2-1 lead at 4:27 of the second.

Dvorak, who spent his first five NHL seasons with the Coyotes, briefly left the game in the first period after getting hit in the side of the head with the puck.

Arizona tied the game again after Maccelli drove down the right side with speed and scored from in close to make it 2-2 at 7:23 of the second.

Montembeault made his best save of the scoreless first period on a shot from in close by Lawson Crouse with 42 seconds left.

Arizona outshot Montreal 17-5 in the opening period.

The Coyotes had 33 shots on goal through two periods, which surpassed the team's previous season high for a full game (32).

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Arizona
Cole Caufield 1 Points Matias Maccelli 1
Cole Caufield 1 Goals Matias Maccelli 1
Josh Anderson 1 Assists Jakob Chychrun 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Sam Montembeault .949 Save Percentage Karel Vejmelka .885
Sam Montembeault 37 Saves Karel Vejmelka 23
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 26 3 0-2 2-2 4 34
Arizona 39 2 0-2 2-2 4 26
Upcoming Games
  • Arizona will play their next game on the road against Vegas. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .300 after a win and .350 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Colorado. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .357 after a win and .556 after a loss.