Novak scores in OT as Penguins survive Canadiens comeback

Tommy Novak scored twice, including the winner at 1:33 of overtime, as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 on Saturday, Oct. 3, at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins had led 5-1 before Montreal forced overtime. Novak ended the game by finishing Evgeni Malkin's pass on a two-on-one. Malkin contributed a goal and two assists, while Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots.

Nick Suzuki recorded a goal and three assists for Montreal. With Jakub Dobes off the ice for an extra attacker, Suzuki set up Chris Kreider with 1:08 remaining and Ivan Demidov with 44 seconds left to bring the Canadiens level. Cole Caufield scored twice, and Dobes made 24 saves.

Pittsburgh built its four-goal advantage with goals from Malkin, Declan Carlile, Samuel Girard, Novak and Ben Kindel. Suzuki scored late in the second period, and Caufield added Montreal's third goal at 3:31 of the third.

Montreal's comeback did little to ease the players' frustration with their second period. Speaking to Sportsnet after the game, Juraj Slafkovský said the Canadiens had fallen asleep, while Lane Hutson regretted trying to create a play instead of getting the puck deep on a giveaway. Coach Martin St. Louis said tired defencemen facing a long change needed to keep the game simpler.

An Egor Chinakhov goal at 5:25 of the third period was overturned after Montreal challenged for offside. Canadiens defenceman Alexandre Carrier was hurt in the second period when he struck the boards following contact from Chinakhov, Sportsnet reported. Montreal announced that Carrier remained under evaluation and was ruled out for the rest of the game.