Holtz leads Habs with 2 goals, including OT winners, against Devils

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BUFFALO — Alexander Holtz scored his second goal of the game on a power play 17 seconds after overtime to give the New Jersey Devils a 4-3 win over the Canadiens in Friday’s 2022 Prospects Challenge.

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The Canadians were then 3-2 in the lead Holtz scored his first goal at 18:14 of the third period and things got worse 22 seconds later when Ryan Francis went into the penalty box for batting. That gave the Devils a 4-for-3 advantage before overtime and they conceded to a string of first-round draft picks and defenseman Simon Nemec, who was the #2 overall pick in this year’s NHL draft.

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The Canadiens took the lead early in the third period through an Owen Beck goal. He will return to junior hockey later this month but is determined to make a good impression on the Canadians

Beck used a rally in the offensive zone and scored a free game goal at 8:59. Beck, who was selected in the second round earlier this year (33rd overall), has scored in each of Montreal’s two games here.

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“I wanted to come out here and make a difference, and I felt like I made that happen,” Beck said. “I’ve been doing what I have a reputation for, which is winning faceoffs and playing a strong 200-foot game, and I’m trying to improve my offense, which a lot of people questioned last season.

“I’ve been working a lot on my faceoffs because that’s where it all starts,” Beck said. “You can’t do anything if you don’t have the puck.”

It seemed to be a long night for undrafted goaltender Riley Mercer as the Devils got the first goal at 2:02 with a power play goal from Reilly Walsh.

But defenseman William Trudeau scored midway through the third and first-round draft pick Filip Mesar scored a power play goal late in the third to give Montreal a 2-1 lead. It was the second goal in as many games for Mesar, who hopes to play with Laval this season rather than going to the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers.

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Late bloomer Xavier Parent, one of eight undrafted players in the Devils’ roster, scored the only goal in the second period to tie the game 2-2. The Laval native has enjoyed a landmark season as an aging junior. He had 51 goals and 106 points with the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The 5ft 8 winger was overlooked because of his height and he also missed half of his draft year with an injury.

On paper, Montreal’s lineup was significantly weaker than the group that lost 4-3 to the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.

Jordan Harris and Mattias Norlinder were the only defensemen expected to be fighting for an NHL job when main training camp opens next week. The inexperienced defensive corps was joined by Mercer, an undrafted player who struggled at Drummondville last season.

Mesar was the only first-round draft pick in the Montreal lineup — the Devils dressed four, including their entire first line, and Nemec — and they had five undrafted players.

The Canadiens will practice on Saturday and play their final game against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday afternoon.

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