Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Paul Byron – Max Domi – Joel Armia

Tomas Tatar – Nick Suzuki – Artturi Lehkonen

Ryan Poehling – Nate Thompson – Nick Cousins

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Victor Mete – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Cale Fleury

Carey Price – Keith Kinkaid

Christian Folin, Jordan Weal, Mike Reilly

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Game Report

Entering the contest tonight, the Canadiens found themselves looking at home cooking for eight of their eleven upcoming games. One would call the home-heavy a blessing and a real opportunity to manufacture a winning streak.

A run up the standings was more of a possibility considering that just two of the 11 opponents were currently in a playoff position. Tonight’s visiting team was tied for the fewest number of points in the NHL.

So perhaps it was fitting that Montreal took a comfortable 3-0 lead to the first intermission break. Two power-play goals by Shea Weber along with Nate Thompson’s first of the year in a span of six and a half minutes took some fight out of the visiting Kings.

But L.A. was not down and out. And the Canadiens, despite six minutes with the man advantage in the second period, failed to put away their struggling opponent. The Kings scored the only goal of the second frame, on their own power-play, and outshot Montreal 10-to-8.

In the third period, the Canadiens relied on Carey Price and excellent defensive play of Artturi Lehkonen to secure their ninth win of the season.

Weber and Price led the Habs to two points to begin this 11-game stretch. But they will need more participation from more members of the team to take advantage of this gift from the scheduling gods.

The Canadiens will have the day off on Sunday returning to practice at 11 am. on Monday at Brossard. 

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Shea Weber, Artturi Lehkonen

▼  Brett Kulak, Victor Mete