(Montreal) One of the two teams in action Thursday night at the Bell Center would see its six-game losing streak come to an end. Unfortunately for the spectators present, the Canadian saw his streak extend to seven.
Posted at 9:47 p.m.
James van Riemsdyk had two goals and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers beat Montreal 6-3.
The Canadiens have won just two of their last 13 games (2-10-1). For their part, the Flyers won for only the third time in their last 14 outings (3-11-0).
Mike Hoffman, Cole Caufield and Jake Evans hit the target for the Canadian (20-47-11).
After seeing the Habs shut out in his first two starts this season, star goaltender Carey Price had an ordinary night. He made 28 saves.
Ivan Provorov, Oskar Lindblom, Morgan Frost and Travis Konecny were the other scorers for the Flyers (24-43-11). Bobby Brink had two assists and Martin Jones stopped 30 shots.
Canadian defenders Chris Wideman and Kale Clague had a tough night. They both finished the game with minus-3 differentials.
Forwards Jake Evans and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard have been added to the Canadiens roster, taking over from Laurent Dauphin and Paul Byron. On defense, Clague replaced Jordan Harris.
The Canadiens will play their next game on Saturday, when they visit the Ottawa Senators. He will be back at the Bell Center on Sunday for a duel with the Boston Bruins.
Serrated
The first minutes of the meeting did not give a glimpse of the spectacle that was to follow as the two teams seemed to lack cohesion.
The Flyers finally opened the hostilities at 7:43, when van Riemsdyk took it twice to thread the needle, then the game came alive.
Rem Pitlick orchestrated three two-on-one attacks, two of them shorthanded, in the space of a few minutes. However, the Canadian was unable to take advantage of it.
The Flyers took the lead to 2-0 with 5:31 to go in the first period. Provorov scored moments after a face-off won by the visitors in attacking territory.
The Canadian replied 62 seconds later. Hoffman was able to shoot into a gaping cage after Jones found himself out of his net. The replays showed that Brendan Gallagher had made a pass with his hand.
According to what was reported by the TSN network, the referees informed the Flyers that they could not contest the goal during this type of situation. The NHL rulebook says quite the opposite. The result of the confusion was that the goal was awarded.
Hoffman took advantage of the circumstances to end a 21-game scoreless drought.
The Habs came close to creating the tie before the end of the first period. Cole Caufield and Hoffman rattled the posts, however.
It was only a postponement for the Canadian. Evans tied the score at 2-2 after 5:28 of play in the second period. He deflected a long Jeff Petry shot into the goal.
The Flyers, however, took control of the game by scoring two goals before the end of the second period.
Lindblom surprised Price at 6:49 of the second period, then Konecny scored at 13:02 after a quick transition from the Flyers.
The Canadian had difficulty sounding the charge in the third period. Tyler Pitlick passed closest to hitting the target, but his shorthanded shot with just under seven minutes to go hit the crossbar.
Frost delivered the knockout blow with 4:24 to go on the encounter. Van Riemsdyk turned the iron in the wound by beating Price again 80 seconds later.
Caufield took advantage of Jones’ generosity to register his 19and goal of the season with 2:27 on the clock.