Canadiens Return From Olympic Break With Rusty Performance in Overtime Defeat
The Montreal Canadiens' first game back from the three-week Winter Olympics break ended in disappointment as they surrendered a late lead and fell 4-3 in overtime to the New York Islanders on Thursday night at Bell Centre.
Late Collapse Costs Montreal Crucial Points
Anders Lee tied the game with just 1:41 remaining in the third period, capitalizing on an early goalie pull strategy by Islanders coach Patrick Roy. In the 3-on-3 overtime session, Jean-Gabriel Pageau secured the victory for New York with a breakaway goal that beat Montreal goaltender Samuel Montembeault five-hole.
Montembeault allowed four goals on 26 shots in what proved to be a challenging return to action for the Canadiens netminder. The loss highlighted Montreal's struggle to maintain momentum after the extended international break.
Defensive Contributions and Disallowed Goals
Former Islander Noah Dobson scored twice against his old club, reaching the 40-point plateau for the fourth time in his career. His performance was countered by New York's rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who scored twice in just 55 seconds late in the second period to erase Montreal's lead.
The game featured multiple disallowed goals that impacted the outcome. Marc Gatcomb's first-period goal was overturned following a successful offside challenge by Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. Later, Cole Caufield had a goal denied due to a distinct kicking motion with his skate blade.
Caufield eventually found redemption with his 33rd goal of the season, capitalizing on a broken stick play from Juraj Slafkovsky that created an easy tap-in opportunity.
Olympic Return and Roster Considerations
The Canadiens honored their four players who participated in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics during the game. Alexandre Texier and Slafkovsky recorded assists in their return, while Nick Suzuki played 24:36 without registering a point. Finnish bronze medalist Oliver Kapanen contributed two blocks and two hits in limited ice time.
Forward Alex Newhook made his return to the lineup after fracturing his ankle on November 13, recording an assist while playing on a line with Jake Evans and Texier. His return creates roster congestion, with Zachary Bolduc serving as a healthy scratch despite reaching the 10-goal mark this season.
The situation is further complicated by Patrik Laine's continued absence, with reports indicating general manager Kent Hughes and Laine's agent are exploring trade options.
Looking Ahead to a Busy March Schedule
The Canadiens displayed noticeable rust in their first game back from the extended break, a concern as they face a demanding March schedule. The team has three more games before next Friday's trade deadline, followed by 13 contests in the next 25 days.
Defenseman Arber Xhekaj logged 11:58 of ice time, while fan reactions captured the disappointment of surrendering leads at home. As one commenter noted, "points are at such a premium with a short schedule down the stretch," emphasizing the importance of every result during the playoff push.
The Canadiens will need to quickly shed their post-Olympic rust as they navigate a critical stretch of games that could determine their postseason fate.
