MTL@ARI: Game recap

GLENDALE -- The Canadiens did not get the start to the week desired on Monday, falling 5-2 in Arizona.

The game marked Christian Dvorak's first time back in the desert since joining the Habs during the offseason; the Canadiens meanwhile were the visitors at Gila River Arena for the first time since Oct. 2019.
Montreal had offensive reinforcement to start the week as Josh Anderson returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 2.
Cayden Primeau for his part got his first start in goal since a Dec. 16 win against the Flyers at the Bell Centre.
But it was the Coyotes who opened the scoring early with a pair of quick goals. Travis Boyd's wrist shot found its way past Primeau at 5:19 before Johan Larsson made it 2-0 less than three minutes later.
Canadiens newcomer Rem Pitlick got the Habs on the board with less than five minutes to go in the first. Pitlick buried a pass from Jonathan Drouin, who took advantage of a turnover deep in Arizona territory, to score his first in bleu-blanc-rouge.

The Coyotes held a 2-1 lead and a 9-8 shot advantage after 20.
Janis Moser restored the Yotes' two-goal cushion four minutes into the middle frame, backhanding the puck past Primeau unassisted.
Ryan Poehling replied for the Habs less than seven minutes later, deflecting a Drouin shot on the power play to make it 3-2.

Arizona got one more before the period was over, a Nick Schmaltz tally at 18:02 to end the stanza 4-2. The goal was challenged for goaltender interference, but the call on the ice stood.
Primeau did not return for the final frame; Sam Montembeault started the third for the visitors.
Montembeault stopped all five shots he faced, but the Coyotes added an empty netter to end the game 5-2.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Dallas to take on the Stars.