Feb. 28, 2024 00:27 AM EST

Montembeault, Canadiens Snap Five-Game Skid With 4-2 Victory Over Coyotes

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) makes a save as Canadiens' Johnathan Kovacevic (26) skates in with Arizona Coyotes' Nick Schmaltz (8) and Barrett Hayton (29) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) Christinne Muschi, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) makes a save as Canadiens' Johnathan Kovacevic (26) skates in with Arizona Coyotes' Nick Schmaltz (8) and Barrett Hayton (29) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Arizona Coyotes' Nick Bjugstad (17) loses his stick after a high-stick as he works against Montreal Canadiens' Nick Suzuki (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Jordan Harris (54) celebrates his goal against the Arizona Coyotes with Johnathan Kovacevic (26), Jake Evans, hidden, and Josh Anderson (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Tanner Pearson (70) scores on Arizona Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram (39) as Coyotes' Liam O'Brien (38) tries to defend during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024 in Montreal. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
Arizona Coyotes' Alex Kerfoot (15) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens with teammates J.J. Moser (90), Nick Schmaltz (8), Matt Dumba (24) and Barrett Hayton (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
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MONTREAL (AP) — Sam Montembeault made 36 saves to help the Montreal Canadiens snap their five-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.

“They had a lot of shots but even with that we’ve got some guys like (Mike) Matheson and (Johnathan) Kovacevic, they blocked a lot of shots, too,” said Montembeault.

“They’ve got a lot of small shifty players that can move the puck in the offensive zone and I’m happy that we contained them to just two goals and got the win,” he said.

Joel Armia, Jordan Harris, Tanner Pearson and Nick Suzuki, with an empty-net goal, scored for Montreal.

Harris put the Canadiens ahead 2-0 with his second of the season at 4:52 of the second period.

“It was a big goal for us there in the second period,” Montembeault said of Harris’s goal. “He doesn’t get too many chances to go on a 2-on-1 like this but he took his chance and it was a great shot.”

Harris later set up Pearson to give Montreal a 3-1 edge 5:14 into the third period.

“I forgot who was on the boards but they were kind of tied up and I saw Tanner cutting through the middle,” said Harris. “He made a great play, kind of turned on the jets there going around him and then I couldn’t really see great from the bench because I was changing there so I’d have to see the replay to see how it went in.”

Alex Kerfoot and Nick Bjugstad scored for Arizona, while Connor Ingram stopped 17 shots.

The Coyotes outshot the Canadiens 38-21.

“We had emotion, we had passion, there was a good feeling on the bench,” said coach André Tourigny. “We had 77% of the scoring chances, a lot of quality shots but their goaltender stand tall.

“We could have had a little more traffic in front of him and we didn’t reload properly on their goals. It wasn’t a perfect game but overall I don’t want to find excuses.”

Tourigny said his team played a disciplined game but credited Montembeault for shutting the door on all three of the Coyotes’ power plays.

“Our power play had some good looks,” said Tourigny. “(Nick Schmaltz) had some chances from the slot but I think the goalie made his biggest saves when we were on the power play.”

UP NEXT

Coyotes: Continue a five-game road trip at Toronto on Thursday.

Canadiens: Kick off a four-game road trip against the Panthers on Thursday.

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