Sam Montembeault backstops Canadiens to 3-0 win over Oilers

MONTREAL (AP) — Sam Montembeault stopped 30 shots as the Montreal Canadiens blanked Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Monday night.

Brendan Gallagher, Kaiden Guhle and Jake Evans — into an empty net — scored for Montreal, which matched its longest winning streak of the season with a second consecutive victory.

Montembeault earned his second shutout of the campaign after a 48-save showing against Toronto in the season-opener.

Calvin Pickard made 22 saves for Edmonton. The Oilers lost their second in a row after falling 4-3 in overtime to Toronto on Saturday.

Gallagher deflected a hard pass from Mike Matheson into the top right corner to open the scoring with 31 seconds left in the second period.

Canadiens: Montreal outshot the Oilers 11-9 in the third period. They also denied the Oilers on three power-play opportunities. Despite its stacked offense, Edmonton ranks in the bottom third of the league with the man-advantage this season.

Oilers: Edmonton was without defenseman Darnell Nurse. Coach Kris Knoblauch announced earlier Monday that Nurse will be out five to 10 days. Nurse was injured by a hit to the head from Toronto forward Ryan Reaves on Saturday.

Montembeault stood tall on a partial break from Jeff Skinner midway through the third, denying the backhand with a pad save to earn “Monty! Monty!” chants.

Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins played in his 900th NHL game, all with the Oilers. Drafted first overall by the franchise in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins has 252 goals and 455 assists in that span.

The Oilers wrap up a three-game road trip at Ottawa on Tuesday. The Canadiens host Vegas on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) looks for the puck as Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) is stopped by Oilers' Brett Kulak (27) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) stops a shot by Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) as Oilers' Brett Kulak (27) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops a shot by Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) as Canadiens' David Savard (58) defends during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers with teammates during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) celebrates after his goal against the Edmonton Oilers with teammates Mike Matheson (8) and Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) makes a save against Edmonton Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) as Canadiens' Kaiden Guhle (21) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) covers up the puck as Montreal Canadiens' Emil Heineman (51) drives in for the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) looks for the rebound in front of Edmonton Oilers' goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers' Ty Emberson (49) is upended by Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault, right, stops a shot as Edmonton Oilers' Jeff Skinner, left, and Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) look for the rebound during second-period NHL hockey game action in Montreal, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)