By Canadian Press

Walman scores in OT as Wings clip Canadiens 5-4

Dec 2, 2023 | 9:10 PM

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens fought back from an early 3-0 deficit, but could not make up for the bad start, falling to the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime on Saturday at the Centre Bell.

Jake Walman played the overtime hero, firing home a slapshot from the left circle 54 seconds into the extra period.

Joe Veleno, Christian Fischer, Daniel Sprong and Alex DeBrincat also scored for Detroit (13-7-3) while Justin Barron, Joel Armia, Nick Suzuki, Gustav Lindstrom found the back of the net for Montreal (10-11-3).

The Red Wings controlled the tempo early, enjoying long stints of possession in the offensive zone and preventing Montreal from registering a shot in the first 10 minutes.

The opening goal was inevitable, arriving seven minutes in as Detroit forced another turnover off the forecheck. A shot from the point was deflected before a big rebound gave Montreal-born Veleno a wide-open net.

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Montreal’s power play struggles would continue and even add to Detroit’s lead. After turning the puck over at the blue line, Michael Rasmussen was sprang on a breakaway with Fischer there to clean up the rebound when he was stopped.

Detroit added a third with less than a minute to play. During a two-on-one rush, Sprong opted to shoot, beating Jake Allen on the blocker side. Montreal would get one back with six seconds left in the period when Barron fired home a rebound from the slot.

Less than five minutes into the start of the second period, it was Montreal’s turn to score on the penalty kill. After breaking into a two-on-one, Armia went for it himself and sent a shot over Ville Husso’s glove.

DeBrincat would immediately nullify that progress, restoring the Red Wings’ two-goal lead less than a minute later from a tight angle.

Montreal got one back to start the third period when Suzuki picked the top corner while on the power play. This was the Canadiens first goal with the man advantage in 28 attempts, since their Nov. 12 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

Montreal continued to put the pressure on late in the third period and found an equalizer from close range through Lindstrom.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: Host the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 4.

Red Wings: Travel to Buffalo on Dec. 5 to face the Sabres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2023.

Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press