TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Nick Schmaltz scored two goals, including the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Arizona Coyotes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Thursday night.
The game-winner came with 13:53 remaining on a Coyotes power play with Arber Xhekaj in the penalty box for cross-checking. Rookie Logan Cooley skated from the left side and hit Schmaltz with a pass to beat Jake Allen on the glove side.
The Coyotes came off a 4-3 overtime loss at Anaheim on Wednesday night to win their fifth game of the season.
“We're in every game, we just gotta take that next step as a team and learn how to win,” Schmaltz said. “It's fun when you're playing in these close games, you want to be that guy who can make that play when it matters.”
Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said his team's competitiveness had worked against it in other games.
“Tonight was not the case, we stayed composed, we pushed through and we found a way to make key plays,” he said.
Schmaltz, who has four goals and a team-high 10 points, scored his first goal on a penalty shot. Lawson Crouse also scored for Arizona and Connor Ingram stopped 28 shots.
Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher had goals for the Canadiens and Allen stopped 32 shots.
Schmaltz was awarded a penalty shot 6:17 into the game after Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron covered the puck in the crease — the third straight game that Montreal’s opponent has been awarded a penalty.
Schmaltz said aside from shootouts, he couldn't remember taking a penalty shot.
“I had no idea, I didn't know if you get to pick or who gets (to take it), that's pretty cool,” he said. Unlike in the shootout, Schmaltz said, “It actually counts (as a goal), so that's a plus.”
Less than a minute after Schmaltz’s first goal, Monahan scored from the slot, his sixth of the season, to tie it.
After an apparent goal later in the period by the Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki was overturned because a Montreal teammate was offside, the teams were scoreless until the final minute of the second period. Just after a Coyotes power play expired, Crouse scored from Allen’s left for his third of the season. Matias Maccelli and Nick Bjugstad assisted on the goal with 38.8 seconds to play in the period.
Gallagher, who assisted on Monahan’s goal, scored for Montreal on the power play 2:59 into the third period with Clayton Keller off for holding.
Montreal’s Rafael Harvey-Pinard skated off the ice with an apparent injury early in the second period and did not return.
NEXT
Canadiens: At St. Louis Saturday.
Coyotes: Host Winnipeg Saturday.
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