Canadiens score three in second period, hold off Flyers

Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher each notched a goal and an assist to help the visiting Montreal Canadiens hold on for a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday evening.

Jake Evans and Cole Caufield also scored and Cayden Primeau made 23 saves for the Canadiens, who have won consecutive games for the first time this season. They also earned their first road victory in three tries.

Travis Sanheim scored twice and Travis Konecny also had a goal for the Flyers, who have won just twice in their first nine games. Aleksei Kolosov made his NHL debut in net and finished with 20 saves.

Montreal scored three times in the second period to open a 4-1 lead.

The Canadiens initially jumped ahead 2-1 as a shot by Logan Mailloux caromed off Gallagher’s leg and past a helpless Kolosov for Gallagher’s third goal of the season.

Eight minutes later, Caufield extended Montreal’s lead with a power-play goal. He gloved a loose puck near the left circle, dropped the puck and snapped a wrister inside the left post for his eighth goal of the season.

Just over three minutes later, Evans’ one-timer from a sharp angle beat Kolosov to make it 4-1.

Sanheim made things interesting with 2:12 remaining in the contest, beating Primeau from the slot after a nice individual effort to create some space. Konency’s goal with 1:43 to play created some stressful moments for the Canadiens, who survived heavy pressure in the final minute to earn the victory.

Each team scored once in the first period.

Suzuki opened the scoring at 10:42 with his third goal of the season. Sanheim drew Philadelphia even late in the period with a shot from the left point that Primeau was unable to fight through a screen.