Colorado Avalanche's Martin Necas (88) scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, March 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL - Brock Nelson scored the shootout winner in the fourth round as the Colorado Avalanche won 5-4 despite a stunning third-period comeback from the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Colorado’s Charlie Coyle also scored in the shootout, while Patrik Laine replied for Montreal.

Nelson had a goal and an assist in regulation while Martin Necas, Sam Malinski and Ryan Lindgren also scored for Colorado (43-25-3). Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 25 shots.

Canadiens forwards Joshua Roy and Juraj Slafkovsky — with his second of the game — scored 30 seconds apart midway through the third period to cut Colorado’s lead to 4-3 before Christian Dvorak equalized at 13:32 to send the Bell Centre into a frenzy.

Slafkovsky took a holding penalty with 2:25 remaining in overtime to send Colorado on the power play, but Montreal killed it off largely thanks to netminder Sam Montembeault.

Montembeault made 33 saves for Montreal (33-27-9). The Canadiens lost their second in a row but extended their point streak to six games.

The high-flying Avalanche won their second straight after dominating the Ottawa Senators 6-1 on Thursday. Colorado, which loaded up on talent at the March 7 trade deadline, has lost only twice in its last 12 games.

Montreal remained in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card with 75 points, one ahead of the outside-looking-in New York Rangers in a tight playoff race.

TAKEAWAYS

Avalanche: Skated circles around Montreal early, piling up nine shots in the opening six minutes. They scored on their 10th and 11th attempts to take a 2-0 lead and held the advantage until six minutes remained in the third period.

Canadiens: Showed fight in the second period before making a push in the third. After Dvorak evened the score, Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield both struck the post soon after.

KEY MOMENT

Dvorak received a pass from Brendan Gallagher, danced around Nelson and tucked a backhand over Blackwood’s left shoulder for a beautiful goal to tie the game.

KEY STAT

Slafkovsky has eight goals in his last 13 games and 40 in his career. The 20-year-old winger needs one more before his March 30 birthday to tie Stephane Richer (41) for the second most in franchise history by players 20 or younger.

UP NEXT

Avalanche: Begin a four-game homestand Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings.

Canadiens: Open a four-game road trip Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025