Jason Robertson’s shootout goal was the difference Saturday as the Dallas Stars extended their winning streak to seven, beating the host Montreal Canadiens 2-1.
Jamie Benn netted his 12th goal of the season for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 30 shots in regulation and overtime and then stopped Patrik Laine, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki in the shootout to snap Montreal’s three-game winning streak — all of which required overtime or a shootout.
Laine, who missed the previous four games because of an illness, did score in his return for the Canadiens. Sam Montembeault recorded 34 saves for the Habs.
In a matchup of two of the league’s hottest teams, Montembeault and Oettinger put on an exhibition as the two goalies set to play in next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off kept it scoreless for the first 35 minutes of play. It wasn’t until Montreal went on a two-man advantage with five minutes left in the middle period before a puck found the back of the net.
Just 14 seconds into the 5-on-3, Laine scored his ninth of the season — all of which have come on the power play — with assists from Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson. The 26-year-old Finn now has 20 goals in 29 games against the Stars, the most against any team in his nine-year career.
That lead lasted little more than two minutes before Benn extended his point streak to five games. Mavrik Bourque’s diagonal pass to the team captain kickstarted a 2-on-1 rush that culminated with Benn beating Montembeault on the short side.
The helper, Bourque’s seventh of the season, extended the rookie’s points streak to three games.
With the win, Dallas has also won eight of nine and has registered points in all nine games, the longest such streak under coach Pete DeBoer.
Dallas put 16 shots on Montembeault in the first period. That included a point-blank chance by Bourque on a wrap-around with 3:34 remaining, but the Quebec native, playing his first NHL game in Montreal, was denied a highlight-reel goal.
Besides Laine, Montreal also welcomed back defenseman David Savard, who had missed the last four games due to an upper-body inury.
Linesman Michel Cormier left the game after taking a puck to the leg on the faceoff following Laine’s goal.
The same two teams will complete their regular-season series on Thursday in Dallas.
–Field Level Media
