Brendan Gallagher scores twice as Canadiens down Panthers in SO
Nick Suzuki, Jordan Weal, and Phil Varone score in shootout for Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens' offence did just enough in regulation, and in the shootout, to remain perfect in the pre-season.
Brendan Gallagher scored twice in regulation and the Canadiens downed the Florida Panthers 5-4 on Thursday in pre-season action. Nick Suzuki, Jordan Weal, and Phil Varone all scored in the shootout for Montreal.
"It was nice to see pucks go in the net," said Gallagher. " It was a good start. Hopefully something to build on,"
But it was Suzuki's play that drew rave reviews as he earned two assists and scored a Pavel Datsyuk-like goal in the shootout.
WATCH | Canadiens need a shootout to best Panthers in pre-season tilt:
"I worked on it a couple times," said Suzuki. "It was a great feeling to finally put one into the net. It was pretty cool,"
"Ask him if he did it on purpose, I don't know," Gallagher said. "Might've just fanned on the puck. No, it was pretty nice. I can't do it. So it's pretty special to see obviously."
Tough decisions approaching
The 20-year-old Suzuki is fighting for a spot in training camp, along with other youngsters Ryan Poehling, Josh Brook, and Cale Fleury.
"These kids, they come in with a ton of confidence. And they should," said Gallagher. "It's obvious enough that these guys are really knocking on the door. And we're going to have to make some tough decisions near the end of camp," Canadiens' head coach Claude Julien said.
Weal and Brett Kulak both scored in the second period for the Canadiens.
Owen Tippett, Anthony Greco, Jonathan Ang and Brett Connolly supplied the offence for Florida.
Habs goalie Carey Price made 13 saves, while Panthers' goalie Samuel Montambeault stopped 42 shots.
It took the Canadiens 61 seconds to score their first of the night.
Weal skated around Panthers defenceman Anton Stralman before driving to the net and slipping the puck underneath Montambeault's right pad. Suzuki and Shea Weber picked up assists on the goal.
The Panthers equalized with over five minutes to go in the opening period on their third shot of the period. Tippett fired a shot past Price after receiving a pass from Ang. Ethan Prow also assisted on the goal.
Greco scored more than 90 seconds into the second period give his team the lead. Ang scored on a partial breakaway just over a minute later to give his team a 3-1 advantage.
But the Canadiens responded with three consecutive goals. Gallagher scored his first of the pre-season at 5:16 of the period to bring his team within a goal.
Kulak then tied the game 3-3 with 7:29 to go in the second, after he directed the puck past Montambeault off a Suzuki pass.
Gallagher then scored his second of the night after redirecting a pass from Arturri Lehkonen from the front of the net.
Byron exits with injury
The Canadiens were without forward Paul Byron for the third period, as he left the game with an undisclosed injury. The Panthers would tie the game in the period thanks to Connolly. Julien said he'll be evaluated for "precautionary reasons" and hopes to have more details by Friday.
Only Vincent Trocheck could score for Florida in the shootout.
The game was the second encounter between both teams in 24 hours. The Canadiens defeated the Panthers 4-3 during the 2019 Kraft Hockeyville game in Bathurst, N.B., on Wednesday night.
Canucks dominate Oilers
Sven Baertschi looks like he has fully recovered from concussion issues that kept him to just 26 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season.
Bo Horvat had a goal and set up a Baertschi goal as the Canucks came away with a 6-1 pre-season victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
"I've been feeling great all camp," Baertschi said. "I thought I was skating well all night and had my feet going. I'm starting to make my reads out there and understanding what is happening."
The 26-year-old from Switzerland thinks playing with Horvat certainly helps.
"He is such a complete player," Baertschi said. "He's got the speed, he's got the skill. He's got the play-making abilities. He is very strong."
WATCH | Vancouver Canucks roll over Edmonton Oilers in pre-season:
Brogan Rafferty, Jay Beagle, Lukas Jasek and Adam Gaudette also scored for the Canucks who improved to 3-1 in exhibition action.
Jacob Markstrom went the distance in the Vancouver net, making 26 saves.
"I felt pretty good," said Markstrom. "It's fun to be out there playing a real game. It's fun. This is what we grind all summer for. The guys made it easy for me, we played a pretty good road game."
Big evaluation game
Cooper Marody responded for the Oilers, who are 1-2.
"You learn a lot about people in games like that," said Oilers head coach Dave Tippett. "Tonight was a big evaluation game for a lot of guys. We'll see where it washes out.
"If you want to make the NHL, there are no excuses."
Rafferty opened scoring for Vancouver four minutes into the opening period when he teed up a blast from the point that blew past Oilers goalie Mikko Koskinen.
Edmonton responded a couple of minutes later as Marody backhanded in a puck that was lying in the crease, surprising Markstrom, who thought he had it under his pads.
A giveaway at Vancouver's blue-line led to Beagle beating Koskinen high and to the glove side as the Canucks regained the lead with 86 seconds left in the first period.
Vancouver went up 3-1 on the power play 12 minutes into the second period as Horvat made a terrific pass through the seam to give Baertschi an easy redirect into the net.
Jasek's wrist shot from the top of the right circle came on a power play nearly four minutes later.
Shane Starrett replaced Koskinen in the Edmonton net to start the third and was beat early on as Horvat scored on a breakaway.
Gaudette was left alone in front of the net with four minutes remaining to record the Canucks' sixth goal.