Caufield, Newhook each score twice as Canadiens extend win streak
Jakub Dobes made 17 saves for his first win since opening night as Montreal improved to 4-0 without injured captain Nick Suzuki.
DALLAS · Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook each scored twice as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Dallas Stars 5-2 on Thursday night for their fourth consecutive victory. Jakub Dobes made 17 saves for his first win since opening night, and Phillip Danault added an empty-net goal and an assist. The Canadiens have won all four games during their streak on the road against Central Division opponents. Caufield opened the scoring at 7:24 of the first period, snapping in a rebound after a Phillip Danault shot deflected off Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist. Wyatt Johnston tied the game 1-1 on a power play at 12:53, finishing a pass from Mikko Rantanen. Newhook broke the tie at 16:05, taking a stretch pass from Noah Dobson and beating Jake Oettinger with a backhand. Just 27 seconds later, Caufield scored his second of the game to give Montreal a 3-1 lead, converting a loose puck after a Juraj Slafkovsky pass led to a shot off the post.
Newhook made it 4-1 early in the second period, scoring six seconds after a Montreal power play expired. Dobson's point shot caromed off the glass and landed at the side of the net, where Newhook backhanded it past Oettinger. Jamie Benn brought Dallas within two at 8:52 of the second, scoring on a wrist shot off a Rantanen feed. Danault sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:12 of the third period.
Dobes earned the win in place of standout rookie Jacob Fowler, who had won his last six starts. Dobes had allowed 20 goals in his four previous outings, going 0-2-2. The Canadiens improved to 4-0 without captain Nick Suzuki, who is out two-to-four weeks with an upper-body injury. Garbutt Disposal reported earlier this week that Fowler's 46-save shutout led the Canadiens to their third straight win.
Oettinger, who entered the game third in the NHL with a 1.43 goals-against average, allowed a season-high four goals on 20 shots. The Stars, who had won five straight before a 5-1 loss to New Jersey on Tuesday, have now dropped two consecutive games. Dallas is 3-2-0 with one game remaining in a season-long six-game homestand. Noah Dobson recorded two assists for Montreal. For Dallas, Wyatt Johnston finished with a goal and an assist, and Mikko Rantanen, who turned 30 on Thursday, also had two assists.
With files from Sportsnet, Yahoo Sports and Herald Bulletin