Canadiens Lineup

Artturi Lehkonen – Max Domi – Joel Armia 

Jonathan Drouin  – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tomas Tatar  – Jesperi Kotkaniemi –  Paul Byron

Kenny Agostino – Michael Chaput – Nicolas Deslauriers

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Jordie Benn

Antti Niemi – Carey Price 

Karl Alzner, Matthew Peca, Charles Hudon

Andrew Shaw

Game Report

The Colorado Avalanche have one of the best lines in hockey in Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. The trio also give the Avs one of the top fine power-plays in the league. Shutting them down was priority one for the Montreal Canadiens.

With Carey Price’s 43 career shutout, just under 25 solid minutes by Shea Weber, domination at the faceoff dot and excellent penalty-killing, the Canadiens held the Colorado big line scoreless.

The Avalanche have now lost nine of their last 10 games.

Phillip Danault had two assists and won 71 per cent of his faceoffs. Artturi Lehkonen was all over the ice making smart plays and forechecking aggressively. Away from Jonathan Drouin, Max Domi’s effort level was through the roof matching the intensity of Lehkonen and Joel Armia.

The Canadiens offence took more than two periods to get started but capitalized on a goaltender, Semyon Varlamov, who has won just twice since November 30th. Brett Kulak scored the game-winner with a short-handed wrister.

Montreal moves back into a playoff position grabbing one of the wild card spots. The Habs will travel to Boston on Sunday for a game at the TD Garden on Monday night. They return home for a date at the Bell Centre against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Phillip Danault, Artturi Lehkonen, Joel Armia, Shea Weber, Jordie Benn, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Victor Mete

▼  Michael Chaput