The Montreal Canadiens pleased the head coach with their effort but it was not good enough to beat the New Jersey Devils.
GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 3 vs New Jersey Devils 4 | FINAL
Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
89 Joshua Roy - 15 Alex Newhook - 40 Joel Armia
11 Brendan Gallagher - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
70 Tanner Pearson - 36 Colin White - 56 Jesse Ylonen
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 21 Kaiden Guhle
72 Arber Xhekaj - 58 David Savard
54 Jordan Harris - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Starter: 34 Jake Allen
Alternate: 30 Cayden Primeau
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Michael Pezzetta, Sam Montembeault
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Christian Dvorak (upper body), Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body), Jayden Struble (lower body)
Game Report
It was a cautious start to this matinee affair. The Canadiens limited Devils opportunities and New Jersey did the same. It was a scoreless first period, reminiscent of tedious Devils - Habs games from a decade earlier.
The interest level rose in the second period as four goals were scored by the two teams. The Canadiens took advantage of Devils turnovers and shoddy goaltending. The Devils answered each time with the score remaining tied as the clubs headed to the second intermission.
In the third period Jake Allen made several spectacular saves on the Devils power play. However two misplays by Mike Matheson handed the Devils the lead. Suzuki squeaked a shot through Nico Daws bringing the Habs close but the score held, earning the Canadiens their fifth consecutive loss.
The Canadiens have recorded just 13 regulation wins this season. Only two teams, the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, have fewer.
Game Statistics
Canadiens (22-28-8)
Shots: 26
Face-off %: 39.6
Power play: 0/0
Penalty minutes: 4
Hits: 14
Blocks: 18
Devils (29-24-4)
Shots: 24
Face-off %: 60.4
Power play: 1/2
Penalty minutes: 0
Hits: 10
Blocks: 10
Scoring Summary
Canadiens Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Gallagher (9), Suzuki (21)
3rd period: Suzuki (22)
OT: --
SO: --
Devils Scorers
1st period: --
2nd period: Meier (11), Palat (9)
3rd period: Hischier (19)-PPG, Bratt (21)
OT: --
SO: --
Goaltenders
MTL: Allen (L) 5-12-3
NJD: Daws (W) 7-8-0
Canadiens Players of the Game
Nick Suzuki - Suzuki scored twice on four shots on goal in over 21 minutes of play.
Jordan Harris - Harris was solid in over 17 minutes of ice time.
Video Highlights
Post-game Quotes
Martin St. Louis
"We're lacking a little bit of finishing touches at key moments to separate ourselves a little more. It's been kind of the theme lately."
"Playing well and not winning is not good enough in this league."
Johnathan Kovacevic
"We've been playing good hockey for a few games and we're not getting the result we were hoping for. It's like that. We need to be mentally strong and make sure this lesson serves us well in the future."
Up Next
The Canadiens return to Montreal to host the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night.
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.
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