Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson

Tyler Toffoli – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia

Paul Byron – Jake Evans – Artturi Lehkonen

Ben Chiarot – Shea Weber

Joel Edmundson – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Alexander Romanov

Jake Allen – Carey Price

Victor Mete

Ryan Poehling, Michael Frolik, Corey Perry, Cale Fleury, Charlie Lindgren

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Game Report

Early in the season, each team goes through a series of tests to evaluate just where they line up on the spectrum. For two games, the Canadiens were tested by the NHL power duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers. And when the dust settled, two of the best players in the NHL were held to a combined one point for Montreal’s second and third game of the season.

How would the Canadiens penalty-kill, ranked 18th last season, fare against the league’s number one power-play of the 2019-20 season? Rather surprisingly, it was perfect. In the two game series, Edmonton went 0-for-10 with the man advantage.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens were getting balanced scoring. Four of their eight goals in the two games were scored at even strength and four were scored by special teams (two power-play goals and two short-handed markers.) Four goals were scored by forwards and four by defenceman.

To take the balance one step further: five goals were scored by players 30-years-old and older while three goals were notched by players 25-years-old and younger.

It’s early but this all has to be good signs for Claude Julien and his coaching staff.

Allen Starts

One of the tests in Monday night’s game concerned perhaps Marc Bergevin’s most important off-season acquisition. Backup goaltender Jake Allen picked up his first win making his first start in a Canadiens sweater. Allen stopped 25 of the 26 Oilers shots that he faced.

A questioner may ask: Was Allen good? Was he lucky? Did he get a lot of help? And a fair answer is ‘yes.’ 

Allen last started a game on March 11, 2020 and took some time to steady his play in the Habs goal. Montreal defenders did a great job of clearing the puck from harm’s way when Allen was dishing rebounds. The Oilers also hit their fair share of iron.

But Allen looked solid when he needed to especially on the penalty-kill as the Canadiens racked up 14 minutes in minor penalties. Allen was ably assisted by Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Jake Evans and Artturi Lehkonen.

As far as passing tests, there’s a newcomer on the Canadiens blueline who continues to excel. Alexander Romanov opened the scoring halfway through the first period with the first goal of his NHL career. 

Vancouver Bound

It will be a travel day for the Canadiens on Tuesday as they head to Vancouver for a three game set starting Wednesday night.

Plus / Minus

▲  Jake Allen, Alexander Romanov, Shea Weber, Artturi Lehkonen, Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry

▼  Jonathan Drouin, Brendan Gallagher

Game Preview