The Montreal Canadiens played an uninspired game, and lost 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night at the Bell Center.
Ryan Poehling was the only one to score for the Canadian (6-16-2), who was hoping to sign a second straight victory for the first time this season.
Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland found the back of the net for the Canucks (7-14-2), who ended their four-game losing streak before their visit to the Bell Center.
The Canucks’ last regulation-time victory against CH dates back to October 27, 2015. The Canadiens are now 14-1-4 against the Canucks in their last 19 games.
Jake Allen got the start again in front of the Habs goal, and he faced a barrage of 42 shots in the defeat of his team.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Jake Allen saves against Tyler Motte in 2e period.
Opposite Thatcher Demko made 33 saves in front of the Canucks’ net. Demko was looking for a first win in four starts.
After a rather slow start to the game, Pettersson opened the scoring for the Canucks on power-play, 8:00 of the first frame. Poehling brought both teams back to square one with 1:21 left on the throw-off, scoring a fourth goal in 10 games this season.
The Habs started the second period with a lot more confidence. However, as has often been the case since the start of the campaign, Josh Anderson’s lack of focus in his territory led to Garland’s net at 6:27. It was then 2-1 in favor of the visitors.
The Canadian then generated some good chances to score at the end of the engagement – in particular that of Artturi Lehkonen -, but Demko was watching.
The Bleu-blanc-rouge, however, took advantage of a great opportunity to level the score, when Nils Hoglander was found wanting for stick high at 38 seconds of the third period. Except that the Montreal power play is not one of the worst in the league for nothing; the CH aimed a single shot, not very threatening, towards Demko.
The boos were then heard. Which did not change the pace of the match.
Interestingly, captain Shea Weber, on the sidelines since the start of the season and whose career could be over, was observed in the team’s entourage before the game. However, he did not meet with members of the media.
His presence comes the same day Canadian owner Geoff Molson met with reporters to discuss the firing of general manager Marc Bergevin, his deputy Trevor Timmins, and vice president of public affairs and communications Paul Wilson.
The Canadian will continue his stay at home by hosting the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.