{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Edmonton 3, Montreal 0
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, February 11, 2021
Where: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Referees: Marc Joannette, Michael Markovic
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Mark Shewchyk
Attendance: N/A

Darnell Nurse scored for the fifth time in six games, Mike Smith worked his 40th career shutout and the Edmonton Oilers blanked the host Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on Thursday.

Jujhar Khaira and Tyson Barrie scored, and Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid returned to the scoresheet with an assist for the Oilers, who won their third straight overall and sixth in their last seven games.

The high-scoring Draisaitl and McDavid both had 10-game point streaks snapped in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Senators but had helpers on Barrie's tally.

After allowing just one goal in his season debut against Ottawa on Monday, Smith moved to 2-0-0 by stopping all 38 shots to hand Montreal its second shutout.

Backup Jake Allen allowed three goals on 31 shots for the Canadiens, who netted two goals or less for the fourth straight game and dropped consecutive contests for the first time.

A few hours before the scheduled 7 p.m. ET start, the puck-drop on the third meeting between the clubs was delayed one hour due to a COVID protocol issue on Edmonton's side.

Forward Jesse Puljujarvi was removed from the ice by the training staff during practice, but the game resumed a few hours later with James Neal on the first line playing right wing beside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and McDavid.

Puljujarvi was added to the COVID protocol list, but the Oilers managed to conduct additional testing in a timely manner and face Montreal for the third time.

A pass by Edmonton's Josh Archibald through Jeff Petry's skates on a two-on-one ended with Khaira firing just inside the near post for his second goal at 8:27 for the first period's only tally.

In the second period, Montreal defenseman Shea Weber attempted to clear away a puck near the crease, but it struck teammate Phillip Danault and bounced back toward the goal. Weber attempted to bat it in mid-air but clipped a piece of the puck and put it in at 1:27.

Nurse was credited with the marker, tying him with Petry for the NHL's lead among defensemen with six.

After Josh Anderson's double-minor for roughing Oilers rookie William Lagesson, Barrie cashed in on the visitors' third power play by sizzling in a rocket from near the blue line for a 3-0 edge at 4:44.

The 38-year-old Smith made 14 saves in the third period to shut out Montreal for the first time in his career.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Edmonton   Montreal
Tyson Barrie 1 Points N/A
Tyson Barrie 1 Goals N/A
Josh Archibald 1 Assists N/A
Tyson Barrie 1 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Mike Smith 1.000 Save Percentage Jake Allen .903
Mike Smith 38 Saves Jake Allen 28
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Edmonton 31 3 1-3 1-1 6 29
Montreal 38 0 0-1 2-3 8 24
Upcoming Games
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .800 after a loss.
  • Edmonton will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Oilers have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .714 after a loss.