The Canadiens top line supplied all the offense but it wasn't enough to defeat the Dallas Stars at the Bell Centre.
GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 2 vs Dallas Stars 3 | FINAL
Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
70 Tanner Pearson - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
49 Rafael Harvey-Pinard - 15 Alex Newhook - 40 Joel Armia
55 Michael Pezzetta - 74 Brandon Gignac - 56 Jesse Ylonen
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 21 Kaiden Guhle
47 Jayden Struble - 58 David Savard
72 Arber Xhekaj - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Starter: 35 Sam Montembeault
Alternate: 30 Cayden Primeau
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Jordan Harris, Jake Allen
Suspension: Brendan Gallagher
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Christian Dvorak (upper body)
Game Report
In the first game of their traditional set of matinees during Super Bowl weekend, the Canadiens stayed close but couldn't defeat the Dallas Stars who won their fifth straight contest at the Bell Centre.
Once again, the Habs offense came from their top line with Nick Suzuki opening the scoring just 38 seconds into the second period. With an assist on Suzuki's goal, Cole Caufield extended his point streak to 11 games. Juraj Slafkovsky scored a goal in his third straight game with less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame.
Sandwiched between the Canadiens' goals, Dallas scored three times, including a pair from Tyler Seguin. Thomas Harley got the Stars on the board firing the puck five-hole, a goal that Sam Montembeault clearly wanted back. Just 24 seconds later, a misplay between Montembeault and Arber Xhekaj created a turnover that Seguin put into the back of the net for his first of two goals.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard suffered a lower body injury when he collided when Joel Armia in the second period. Harvey-Pinard did not return to the game.
Alex Newhook brought some speed to the lineup returning 72 days after suffering a high ankle sprain. Newhook slotted into Sean Monahan's spot on the first power play. The Canadiens first unit looked dangerous at times but Montreal could not score with the man advantage.
Montreal was effective on the penalty kill, creating two excellent scoring chances when shorthanded for a four minute stretch near the end of the game.
Dallas and Montreal lead the league in having 30 games each decided by one goal.
Game Statistics
Canadiens (21-22-8)
Shots: 20
Face-off %: 43.1
Power play: 0/4
Penalty minutes: 12
Hits: 24
Blocks:17
Stars (32-14-6)
Shots: 38
Face-off %: 56.9
Power play: 0/6
Penalty minutes: 8
Hits: 5
Blocks: 16
Scoring Summary
Canadiens Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Suzuki (16), Slafkovsky (10)
3rd period: --
OT: --
SO: --
Stars Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Harley (13), Seguin (18), Seguin (198)
3rd period: --
OT: --
SO: --
Goaltenders
MTL: Montembeault (L) 12-8-4
DAL: Oettinger (W) 18-9-2
Canadiens Players of the Game
Nick Suzuki - Suzuki had a goal and an assist in over 25 minutes of ice time.
Alex Newhook - Newhook was not eased back into the lineup after more than an absence of two months. Newhook had three shots on goal in almost 19 minutes of play.
Video Highlights
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1YRVQSCqx0[/embed]
Post-game Quotes
Alex Newhook
"I think if we continue to create like that, it will be hard not to score."
"I felt good. I felt in good shape for this game and it was going well. There are elements of my timing that could be adjusted, but I am not too frustrated for a first match in 10 weeks."
Juraj Slafkovsky
"I think we played a very good game. Some things have happened that we have no control over. We can't take that many penalties, but I also think we didn't have that many, but it happens."
Up Next
Following the game, Montreal recalled Joshua Roy from the Laval Rocket. The Canadiens will host the St. Louis Blues on Super Bowl Sunday for another afternoon matinee. Jake Allen will get the start in goal.
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
