(Montreal) Back in Montreal, the Canadiens players offered their best performance of the season on Tuesday at the Bell Center.
(Re) read our live coverage Check out the match summary
Nick Suzuki had one goal and two assists, Jake Allen turned back 22 shots and the Montreal team defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-0.
Suzuki had been critical of his game after the four-game trip to the American West, which ended with a victory and three losses for the Habs. He walked the talk on Tuesday.
“There is no better way as an individual and as a team [de rebondir], said head coach Dominique Ducharme. We can say whatever we want, it’s what we do on the ice that counts. ”
The Habs started the meeting on the hats of wheels on Tuesday. Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia and Artturi Lehkonen played with dynamism from the initial face-off, then Jonathan Drouin, Josh Anderson and Mike Hoffman took over with flying colors.
Suzuki finally opened the scoring moments later and the Canadian was able to hold on to that lead against a team weakened by the absences of two star strikers.
“Beyond winning tonight is the way,” noted Ducharme. It is our team identity. It’s our way of playing. “
“When you play that way, you defend the right way, you get the pucks, it creates a rhythm. It’s our way of playing. For me, tonight is our team. This is what we have to do. And this is the first time that we do it for 60 minutes. ”
Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher, in an empty net, also scored for the Canadian (3-8-0), who won a second game against the Red Wings this season. Gallagher also amassed one assist and Tyler Toffoli two.
Allen was credited with a 23e career shutout and a second this season.
Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 38 shots in front of the Red Wings net (4-4-2).
The Canadian lost the services of Jonathan Drouin in the first period, when he was hit in the face by a shot from his teammate Brett Kulak. The team said Drouin was taken to a hospital for further examinations.
Ducharme was relatively encouraged by the initial results, but added that Drouin was going to have to undergo further exams on Wednesday.
Gallagher and Jeff Petry were in uniform after representing uncertain cases earlier today.
“I think I would have had to tie him up so he wouldn’t play,” Ducharme said of Gallagher, after praising his leadership time and time again.
Recalled from the Laval Rocket over the past two days, forwards Michael Pezzetta and Alex Belzile took part in the game. It was Pezzetta’s first career meeting in the NHL.
Adam Brooks, Cédric Paquette (suspension) and Alexander Romanov were left out by head coach Dominique Ducharme.
The Red Wings were deprived of forwards Dylan Larkin (personal reasons) and Tyler Bertuzzi (unvaccinated).
The Canadiens play their next game on Thursday, when they host the New York Islanders.
Cannon start
With the wind in his sails, the Canadian opened the scoring after 2:06 of play. Suzuki went twice to outsmart Nedeljkovic, finally moving the strings by hitting the disc in the air.
The Habs fired the first seven shots on goal of the game, but Allen had to be vigilant when the Red Wings finally attacked. The Habs goalkeeper made a good save against rookie Lucas Raymond.
Nedeljkovic tried as best as possible to keep his team in the first half. He was smoking at the expense of Jake Evans, but finally gave in to Anderson a second time at 9:18 on the throw.
Anderson returned to the charge late in the first half, after overtaking defender Moritz Seider, but came up against Nedeljkovic.
The Red Wings goaltender made another great save against Dvorak early in the second period, as the Canadiens forward believed he could shoot into an open net.
The Red Wings had their best chance to come back into the game midway in the second period, when they were able to play with a two-man power-play for 26 seconds. Zadina is the one who came closest to closing the gap, but he reached the post.
The third period was just a formality, as the Red Wings were unable to consistently apply pressure on the Canadiens’ defense.
Gallagher closed the books by scoring in an empty net with 121 seconds remaining.
Cloakroom echoes
Josh Anderson noted that the Canadiens’ good start to the game made the difference.
“It’s always a key element to have a good start. The trio [de Dvorak] started strong by bottling the opponent in their territory and each trio followed suit. It gave us rhythm and we never lost it. ”
Jake Allen had an easier night than in his previous shutout, in a 4-0 win over the Sharks in San Jose.
“It was night and day! We have to pay tribute to the guys, to the way they play. I think we played our best game of the season. It sounded easy and that’s what it should look like when you’re all on the same page. I was impressed with our game. ”
Nick Suzuki was happy to have finally scored his first goal of the season.
“It’s a little less weight on my shoulders. I had had opportunities, but I hadn’t taken advantage of them. I hope that will give me a spark. ”
Michael Pezzetta was happy to have broken the ice in the NHL at the age of 23.
“I felt good on the ice. It’s good to have won in my first game. I had fun. The energy was good with the crowd and the guys. I enjoyed it. ”