Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Andrew Shaw

Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Paul Byron – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Artturi Lehkonen

Kenny Agostino – Michael Chaput – Matthew Peca

Brett Kulak – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Jordie Benn – Noah Juulsen

Carey Price – Antti Niemi 

Charles Hudon, Nicolas Deslauriers, David Schlemko

Joel Armia

Game Report

Mark it down as a 6-1 final. That’s what the score would have been with competent referees. It’s rare, extremely rare, that you will find criticism of the officiating in this column. But tonight, it is well-deserved.

Carey Price went down awkwardly after a stick to his left pad from Brady Tkachuk upended him. Yet, to the astonishment of even fair-minded viewers, the goal by Colin White was allowed to stand.

Price grabbed at his left knee in obvious pain, but received no attention from the Canadiens training staff until the goaltender went to the bench during a commercial break. Brett Kulak could not handle Tkachuk who took liberties with Price twice in the first five minutes of the game.

Marc Bergevin is playing with the health of his most valuable asset for creating at huge hole at the top-pairing left defence position and failing to find an adequate replacement.

There is simply no rational explanation for the tandem of TJ Luxmore and Ian Walsh to call an embellishment minor on Artturi Lehkonen who was taken to the ice with a blatant hook by Thomas Chabot. It was an absurd call. The resulting goal was unjustly disallowed.

The Bell Centre faithful showed their displeasure by booing for a solid five minutes.

Credit to Shea Weber who kept his troops’ emotions under control and scored the game-winner. It was the captain’s fourth goal and seventh point in nine games.

Jonathan Drouin may be pleased with himself for scoring an empty net. But his play without the puck was lazy and irresponsible again tonight. A disinterested, passive shift by Drouin and Max Domi led to Ottawa’s second goal by Mikkel Boedker.

The Canadiens will play their last home game of the calendar year on Monday when they host the Boston Bruins.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Shea Weber, Artturi Lehkonen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi

▼  Jonathan Drouin, Max Domi, Brett Kulak, Jordie Benn, Kenny Agostino, Marc Bergevin