Oct. 14, 2024 22:43 PM EST

Eller Scores 2 Goals, Malkin Has Goal And 2 Assists As Penguins Beat Canadiens 6-3

Montreal Canadiens' Emil Heineman (51) celebrates with teammates Arber Xhekaj (72), Oliver Kapanen (91) and Mike Matheson after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of a NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) Graham Hughes, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Montreal Canadiens' Emil Heineman (51) celebrates with teammates Arber Xhekaj (72), Oliver Kapanen (91) and Mike Matheson after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of a NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) celebrates with teammates Evgeni Malkin (71) and Michael Bunting (8) after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) moves in on Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the second period of a NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) moves in on Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry as Penguins' Erik Karlsson (65) defends during the second period of a NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Lars Eller reacts after scoring against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
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MONTREAL (AP) — Lars Eller had two goals against his former team, Evgeni Malkin had a goal and two assists, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 on Monday night.

Kris Letang, Kevin Hayes and Rickard Rakell also scored for Pittsburgh, and Tristan Jarry stopped 24 shots.

Sidney Crosby was held off the scoresheet, keeping him one point shy of 1,600. The 37-year-old is looking to become just the 10th player in NHL history to reach the mark.

Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky and Emil Heineman scired for Montreal. Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson each had two assists and Sam Montembeault made 26 saves.

Takeaways

Penguins: Eller converted both goals — his first points of the season — with wicked wrist shots. The 35-year-old from Denmark played for the Canadiens from 2010-16.

Canadiens: With Slafkovsky’s first of the season, the Canadiens scored a power-play goal for the fourth consecutive game. Rookie Lane Hutson didn’t produce a point, but fans cheered every time he touched the puck and the buzz only grew louder with every play, including a slick deke around Crosby late in the second period.

Key moment

Hayes put the Penguins ahead 4-3 with 12:13 remaining in the game. The 32-year-old forward was all alone in front before burying a rebound past Montembeault. Letang doubled the lead four minutes later.

Key stat

15:30 — that’s how long it took for the Canadiens to register their first shot on goal. Fans cheered sarcastically two minutes earlier when Jake Evans sent a dump-in toward the net, but the Canadiens weren’t credited with a shot.

Up Next

Penguins host Buffalo on Wednesday night to open a two-game homestand, and Canadiens host Los Angeles on Thursday to wrap up a three-game stretch at home.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

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