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Draisaitl rescues Oilers in shootout with Canadiens

[February 06, 2017] MONTREAL -- In a game in which offense was to be expected, a playoff-type tilt came through instead.

Leon Draisaitl scored the shootout winner to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a tight-checking 1-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre.

"It seems the hype of the game is always going to be about a lot of offense and we get into a defensive battle," said Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty. "They're a different team than they've been in the past and they're able to play well defensively, and that's why they're having success this year. It comes down to the shootout and they came out on top. Great game by Monty and I thought we're on the verge of breaking through and finding our step."

Al Montoya stopped 32 shots for Montreal (30-16-8) while Cam Talbot made 22 saves for Edmonton (29-18-8), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"Any time you can put an end to a losing streak, you're happy, whether it's going into a break or not," Oilers coach Todd McLellan said. "I thought when we came out of the All-Star break we weren't very good and we improved in each of the four games. The problem is we're going into another so-called break and we've got to start all over again next week. Get the rest and maybe learn a lesson from the All-Star break and apply it to returning next week."

Both sides had opportunities to get on the board first.

The Oilers had a chance right off the hop when Jordan Eberle tipped a shot that landed right by Montoya's pad. But no Oilers were within reach of the loose puck and the Canadiens cleared it out of harm's way.

Montreal got its first chance a few minutes later when Torrey Mitchell fed Alexei Emelin for a one-timer from the point that beat Talbot but hit the crossbar.

With time ticking down in the first, Montoya sprawled in his crease to hold off Connor McDavid.

Shea Weber slipped in the Edmonton zone in the second period, opening the door for a 3-on-1 for the visitors. But Andrei Markov got his stick in the way, denying the Oilers of a shot on goal.

"You see it's a 3-on-1 coming and McDavid's hollering for the puck, so you know they're going to slow it down," Montoya explained of the play. "Pass comes across, last thing I think is they're going to throw it back-door, which he tries to do but Marky makes a heck of a play to make it 0-0. That's a big turning point for us, for sure."

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Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl (29) skates with the puck to score a goal during a shootout against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Late in the frame, David Desharnais got his stick on a Nathan Beaulieu shot from the goal line but Talbot extended his leg to keep the puck out of his net.

Radulov nearly got the Canadiens on the board midway through the third when he tipped a Phillip Danault feed that ultimately went high.

Montoya's strong game continued late in the third with back-to-back saves on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid in close.

McDavid had a great chance to end it in overtime when he took advantage of a slow line change by Montreal and broke in on Montoya, who denied him with a pad save.

"Both teams I think put an emphasis on their defensive games today, and I think that's why it was so tight," Oilers winger Milan Lucic said.

"With Connor's skillset, a lot of teams are doing what they can to take him away, and rightfully so," he added. "If I was on the other side, I'd be doing the same thing."

NOTES: Oilers C Connor McDavid played in his 100th NHL game. ... Canadiens C Tomas Plekanec played in his 897th career game, moving past Patrice Brisebois for 12th place on the franchise's all-time games played list. ... Montreal scratched C/W Brian Flynn and D Greg Pateryn while C David Desharnais drew back in after sitting out Saturday's game as a healthy scratch. ... Edmonton D Eric Gryba suited up for the first time in eight games while D Jordan Oesterle made his season debut after being called up from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. ... The Oilers scratched C Matt Hendricks, D Kris Russell and D Griffin Reinhart.

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