6-4

Canadiens Lineup

Forward lines  

Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Andrew Shaw

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Paul Byron – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Artturi Lehkonen

Kenny Agostino – Michael Chaput – Matthew Peca

Defense pairings

Brett Kulak – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Jordie Benn – Noah Juulsen

Goaltenders

Antti Niemi – Carey Price

Scratches

Charles Hudon, Nicolas Deslauriers, David Schlemko

Injuries

Joel Armia

Game Report

It was the type of game that a team can only play and win, if they have the best goalie in the world between the pipes. After a quiet start, the two teams put up 10 goals in the final 40 minutes.

While the run and gun play entertained Bell Centre fans, it was left to Carey Price to make one spectacular save after another. The Carolina attack often came in a flurry. It is the second time this week that Price has been called on to deliver a win.

While the Canadiens abandoned their defensive game, they put up six goals with 11 players getting at least one point. Sadly that success did not extend to the Habs power-play who went 0-for-6 tonight. Montreal remains 30th in the league with the man advantage.

While Andrei Svechnikov was potting highlight reel goals for the team in red, Artturi Lehkonen went airborne after driving to the net, scoring his sixth of the season. Lehkonen now has four goals in his last seven games. 

The Brett Kulak era appears to be coming to an end.

— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) December 14, 2018

While Brett Kulak has been filling in admirably on the top pairing, he more appropriately belongs in the 6/7 slot. Back-to-back poor performances had Noah Juulsen finishing the game to the left of Shea Weber.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Shea Weber, Artturi Lehkonen, Jeff Petry

▼  Brett Kulak, Jonathan Drouin