(Montreal) The Canadian was unable to extend his winning streak to four.
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Jordan Staal scored shorthanded, Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 26 shots and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal club 3-0 on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
The Habs’ longest winning streak this season quickly came to an end.
The Hurricanes were the more opportunistic and they also managed to limit the home club’s scoring chances.
Samuel Montembeault made 27 saves in front of the Canadian net (28-33-12), who was shut out for a third time this season, but for the first time by a team other than the Los Angeles Kings.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Jake Evans tries to control the puck.
The Habs also suffered a ninth straight loss against the Hurricanes. Their last victory against the Carolina team dates back to February 29, 2020.
Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis each had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (47-21-7). Jake Guentzel had two assists.
Kotchetkov recorded his fourth shutout this season and eighth of his career.
The Habs were without defender Kaiden Guhle, who was serving a one-match suspension. Guhle was punished for hitting Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers with a stick on Thursday in the second period of the Canadiens’ eventual 4-1 victory. Guhle was then on the players’ bench and Konecny was on the ice.
The Canadian will play their next game on Tuesday, when they host the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre.
A few small jumps
Mike Matheson came close to opening the scoring in the first moments of the match. The Canadian defender made a nice climb on the left wing, then went around the opposing net. He wanted to send the puck back in front, but it deflected off the blade of defender Brett Pesce’s stick, then hit the crossbar and the far post, without ever crossing the goal line.
Matheson also stood out at the other end of the ice. He blocked a shot from Martin Necas when the latter thought he had an abandoned net in front of him.
The Hurricanes threatened at the end of the period. Dmitry Orlov went for a rush, but was unable to complete the game by scoring.
For his part, Andrei Svechnikov reached the post to the left of Montembeault twice in the same sequence.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Juraj Slafkovsky and Brent Burns
Juraj Slafkovsky, who celebrated his 20th on Saturdaye birthday, had two good chances to score at the start of the second period, each time thanks to the staging of Cole Caufield. The first time, he came up against Kochetkov. Then he was unable to shoot on the second opportunity.
Staal then gave the Hurricanes the lead at 9:33 of the second period. The veteran escaped and scored with a low and precise shot from the side of Montembeault’s shield.
Necas knocked on the door early in the third period, but he missed the target on the backhand after stealing the puck from Nick Suzuki.
The Hurricanes widened the gap a few moments later on the power play, at 3:42. Guentzel’s shot hit Jarvis’ skate and the puck went to Aho, who was able to shoot into an open net.
The Canadian did not have the opportunity to make one last push, as Jarvis scored into an empty net with 2:48 remaining, shortly after Montembeault had been replaced by an extra attacker.