Canadiens Alumni Best Jets Alumni Ahead Of Heritage Classic

As part of the fanfare that comes with hosting an outdoor game, the city of Winnipeg hosted an old-timer’s game between the former Montreal Canadiens and the former Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Center on Saturday night. With nothing but pride and bragging rights on the line, fans who made it to the game got a good show and didn’t regret it.

The Habs alumni, coached by former blueliner and now media personality P.K. Subban, won 7-4 over the Jets alumni. The bench boss had plenty of talent to draw on, with Paul Byron, David Desharnais, Guillaume Latendresse, and Andrei Markov lacing them up for the Sainte-Flanelle. In net, Montreal chose the 2011 playoff hero, Jaroslav Halak, and Yan Danis, and it proved a winning formula.

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Desharnais, who spent part of 10 NHL seasons in the Canadiens’ organization, led the charge with four points in a 7-4 triumph, a total matched by linemate Guillaume Latendresse on a line completed by Erik Cole. The big number 84 scored a brace like Byron, while Desharnais, David Savard and Cole also found the back of the net, with the latter scoring on an empty net.

Meanwhile, Ron Hainsey, Mark Stuart, Anthony Peluso and Blake Wheeler beat the Canadiens’ goaltenders, but it wasn't enough to give the home side a win. Andrew Hutchinson and Jason Kasdorf were the locals’ netminders.

With that game in the books, the two NHL teams can now get down to business at Princess Auto Stadium. The Jets will try to right the ship after four straight losses, while the Canadiens will try to build momentum after returning to winning ways Friday night. The puck drops at 7:00 PM for a game that will hopefully live up to its Heritage Classic billing.

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