Canadiens @ Oilers: Weber, Anderson Lead Habs | RECAP

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Rick Stephens
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(Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Montreal Canadiens vs Edmonton Oilers Game Recap: Habs Line-up, Score, Statistics, Highlights, Post-game Interviews, NHL Three-Stars

FINAL | Game 44, Away Game 22 | Wednesday April 21, 2021
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB

CANADIENS

Montreal

4-3

OILERS

Edmonton
(Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Canadiens Lineup

Forward lines

Tyler Toffoli – Nick Suzuki – Joel Armia

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson

Artturi Lehkonen – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Paul Byron

Jonathan Drouin – Eric Staal – Corey Perry

Defence pairings

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson – Jeff Petry

Alexander Romanov – Jon Merrill

Goaltenders

Jake Allen – Cayden Primeau

Scratches

Brett Kulak, Erik Gustafsson 

Taxi Squad

Michael Frolik, Cole Caufield, Jake Evans, Xavier Ouellet, Charlie Lindgren

Injuries

Brendan Gallagher (hand), Carey Price (concussion)

Game Report

The Canadiens came out angry. It started in the pre-game skate as Oilers forward Alex Chiasson was instructed that Montreal would be holding him accountable for injuring Carey Price. Post-game Josh Anderson said “I thought we all did a good job of letting [Chiasson] know that we’re coming out after they hurt our best goalie and best goalie in the League.”

Enforcing the code was taken on by Corey Perry. A decisive victory wasn’t necessary in the scuffle. A message had been sent. 

But it wasn’t an isolated message nor the limit of the Canadiens anger. The two teams combined for 43 hits in the first period alone. Montreal also outshot the Oilers 14-3 in the opening frame.

Of the forwards, Paul Byron was credited with seven hits, Joel Armia with six hits and Jesperi Kotkaniemi with five. It was Kotkaniemi’s hits that were delivered with force.

And on the backend, Ben Chiarot registered nine hits and Shea Weber had four hits. But that stat doesn’t tell the full story. Weber was beast in this game, punishing Oiler forwards, particularly Leon Draisaitl.

“They have some big bodies back there. They make it tough to get to the net,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Weber set the example leading his teammates into this playoff-style fight.

And with the tone set in the defensive zone, the Canadiens were able to push the pace, playing their kind of game in the Oilers zone. Montreal was relentless on the forecheck, played with intensity and even a touch of desperation.

Let’s add resilient to the descriptors of the Canadiens game. When Connor McDavid went in all alone scoring what could have been a soul-crushing goal for Montreal, Josh Anderson scored a beauty while driving to the net. Coming just 11 seconds after McDavid’s early second period tally, Anderson’s first of two markers on the night was a perfect reply and squashed any Edmonton momentum. 

Up Next

The Canadiens travelled to Calgary after the game. They will enjoy a day off on Thursday ahead of a two-game set with the Flames on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Plus

▲  Shea Weber, Josh Anderson, Artturi Lehkonen, Ben Chiarot, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Tomas Tatar, Jeff Petry, Paul Byron

Minus

▼  Jonathan Drouin, Eric Staal, Phillip Danault 

Game Preview

Check out the game preview here: Canadiens @ Oilers: Habs Debut for Merrill

The Numbers

Game Statistics
CANADIENS   OILERS
31 Shots 25
36 Face-off % 64
1-for-4 Power Play 1-for-4
13 Penalty Minutes 13
46 Hits 41
42 Corsi For 34
Scoring Summary
FINAL 1 2 3 OT SO T
Canadiens (20-15-9) 1 1 2 – – 4
Oilers (27-16-2) 0 1 2 – – 3
Scorers Goalies
  • MTL: Lehkonen (4), Anderson (16), Toffoli (22)-PPG, Anderson (17)
  • EDM: McDavid (25), Nugent-Hopkins (13)-PPG, Puljujarvi (12)
  • MTL: Allen (W) 8-8-4
  • EDM: Smith (W) 16-5-2

Stars of the Game

Official NHL Three Stars
NHL3stars
  1. Josh Anderson  MTL
  2. Connor McDavid  EDM
  3. Shea Weber  MTL

Watch

Video Highlights

What Did They Say?

Post-game Quotes

Dominique Ducharme

  • “I liked our engagement in every aspect of the game. We applied pressure to get the puck and we went to the net. We had good puck support, which allowed us to execute quickly.”

Josh Anderson

  • “[Shea Weber and Ben Chiarot] were absolutely massive for us. Anytime forwards are going back for the puck, they knew that Shea and Benny were there to be physical on them and bring that presence. Anytime you’re going up against those two guys, it’s going to be a really tough night. Not only were they physical, they were blocking shots for us and they were very good on the penalty kill tonight. Just all aspects of their game, I thought they played really, really well.”
  • “We know Shea’s a big part of our team, we all know that, and he’s such a good captain and leader, so we knew he was going to put in a good effort tonight and he played unbelievable.”

Quotes courtesy of NHL.com

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