Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook both scored two goals for the Montreal Canadiens, who capped a perfect four-game road trip with a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
Phillip Danault added a goal and an assist for Montreal, which has earned points in six straight games (5-0-1). Noah Dobson recorded two assists, and Jakub Dobes set aside 17 shots to earn his second win in six starts this season and first in a month.
Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who lost their second straight. Jamie Benn also scored, and Mikko Rantanen logged two assists.
Jake Oettinger made 16 saves on 20 shots as his personal four-game winning streak ended.
The Canadiens used goals by Newhook and Caufield just 27 seconds apart late in the first period to take a 3-1 lead and grab control of the game.
Caufield scored both of his goals in the first period, the first with a bit of luck. The Montreal forward lost his stick behind the Dallas net after moving the puck along. The Stars lost track of him as he grabbed it, letting him skate to the right faceoff circle. Danault’s shot from the point glanced off Dallas defenseman Nils Lundkvist and right to Caufield, who put the Canadiens ahead with 12:36 left in the opening period.
Johnston got the equalizer at 7:07 left in the opening frame. His third goal of the season was also his first on the power play after he scored a team-record and league-high 27 in that fashion last season.
Newhook put Montreal ahead for good with 3:55 left in the first. Getting the puck at the Dallas blue line from Noah Dobson, he had a clear lane to Oettinger and beat him with a backhand in the low slot.
Caufield’s team-leading eighth of the season came seconds later as he was stationed at the post and put in a rebound of an Adam Engstrom shot.
Newhook made it 4-1 with 13:49 left in the second, moments after a Stars penalty ended. He took advantage of a stickless Lian Bichsel to backhand a rebound into the net.
Dallas pulled Oettinger with 2:45 remaining in the game. Danault ended it with an empty-netter with 48 seconds left as the NHL’s top defensive team allowed five goals in its second straight game.