Montreal Canadiens v. Vegas Golden Knights
Stanley Cup Semifinals
Game 5 (Series tied 2-2)
Montreal Canadiens Lineup:
Vegas Golden Knights Lineup:
Game Recap:
In the Fortress, this contest starts off with puck battle on both ends of the ice. At 2:05 in the first period, Vegas goes on the Power Play when Montreal’s Paul Byron is sent to the penalty box with a cross checking call. After great shot attempts at the net for Vegas, Montreal gets a couple of chances of their own and get on the board when Jesperi Kotkaniemi scores after a great save that would then be turned into a turnover, leading to the Kotkaniemi goal. With 5:05 left in the first period, it looked like Vegas would tie the contest but a brilliant save by Carey Price keeps it a 1-0 Montreal lead. After a scary injury to one of the on-ice officials with 1:15 left in the period, the game continues and at the end of the first, Montreal has the 1-0 lead over the Golden Knights.
In the second, Eric Staal makes it a 2-0 Canadiens lead with the goal at 6:32. After a hi-sticking call from Nicolas Roy to the neck of Montreal’s Artturi Lehkonen, Montreal goes on the power play. Cole Caufield goes on to score the power play goal, his third goal of the postseason at 9:49 to give the Canadiens the 3-0 lead. At 10:42, Montreal goes on the power play once more when Vegas’ Shea Theodore head to the box for a cross-checking penalty. At 17:10, Montreal goes to the penalty kill when Shea Weber goes off to the box for a hooking penalty. With the second period coming to a close, the Canadiens head into the third with the 3-0 lead over Vegas.
In the third, Vegas finally gets on the board when Max Pacioretty scores at 4:09 to cut the Canadiens lead to two. Late in the period, Montreal seals the win with an empty goal net by Nick Suzuki to make it a 4-1 Canadiens lead. Montreal looks to win the series back at home for Game 6 Thursday night.
Scoring and Penalty Summary:
1st Period
| Montreal Penalty | Paul Byron | for | Cross checking | 2 min minor | 02:05 |
| Montreal Goal | Jesperi Kotkaniemi (5) | Assisted by | Josh Anderson (1) | Paul Byron (3) | 08:45 |
2nd Period
| Montreal Goal | Eric Staal (2) | Assisted by | Nick Suzuki (7) | Tyler Toffoli (8) | 06:32 |
| Vegas Penalty | Nicolas Roy | for | Hi-sticking | 2 min minor | 08:33 |
| Montreal PP Goal | Cole Caufield (3) | Assisted by | Corey Perry (6) | Nick Suzuki (8) | 09:49 |
| Vegas Penalty | Shea Theodore | for | Cross Checking | 2 min minor | 10:42 |
| Montreal Penalty | Shea Weber | for | Hooking | 2 min minor | 17:10 |
3rd Period
| Vegas Goal | Max Pacioretty (5) | Assisted by | Nicolas Roy (5) | 04:09 | |
| Montreal EN Goal | Nick Suzuki (5) | Assisted by | Tyler Toffoli (9) | 18:54 |
Statistical Summary:
1st Period
| MTL | VGK | |
| Faceoffs | 4/15 | 11/15 |
| Power Plays | 0/0 | 0/1 |
| Shots | 6 | 6 |
| Hits | 16 | 10 |
2nd Period
| MTL | VGK | |
| Faceoffs | 16/37 | 21/37 |
| Power Plays | 1/2 | 0/2 |
| Shots | 17 | 14 |
| Hits | 35 | 17 |
3rd Period
| MTL | VGK | |
| Faceoffs | 25/59 | 34/59 |
| Power Plays | 1/2 | 0/2 |
| Shots | 26 | 27 |
| Hits | 44 | 34 |
The Xperience Hockey Talk 
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