The Seattle Kraken quickly waved their tentacles and the Montreal Canadiens could never shake their grip on Monday night, eventually losing 4-0 on the Bell Center rink.
The Canadian (16-22-3) thus conceded a third shutout this season, and a first since that of 4-0 against the San Jose Sharks on November 29. He was therefore unable to line up a second victory in a row – a feat he was trying to accomplish for the first time since his successes of November 23 and 25.
Eoli Tolvanen, Daniel Sprong, Vince Dunn and Matty Beniers, in an empty net, hit the target for the Kraken (23-12-4), which recorded a fifth victory in a row. It must be admitted that the training of head coach Dave Hakstol was not easy prey for the CH, since it now has a record of 13-4-2 on opposing rinks this season.
Goalkeeper Samuel Montembeault obtained, against all odds, the departure after the Canadian had urgently recalled Cayden Primeau from the Laval Rocket to replace Jake Allen, injured. Montembeault was riddled with an impressive total of 40 shots in front of the Habs net.
His vis-à-vis, Martin Jones, was not particularly in demand, en route to a fifth consecutive victory on his record. He made just 21 saves in front of the Kraken net, and earned his second shutout this season.
Head coach Martin St-Louis spoke last weekend about the importance of playing well in his territory. A message that does not seem to have been assimilated by his flock.
For the 26th time this season — and the seventh time in a row — the Canadiens conceded the first goal of the game.
Tolvanen, forgotten late alone in the enclave, accepted Yanni Gourde’s precise pass and beat Montembeault with a one-timer after 6:54 of play in the first period. It was then 10-1 on penalties in favor of the Kraken. And it hasn’t improved.
While Chris Wideman was in jail for hooking, Sprong fired a one-timer from the left face-off circle that hit the rod to Montembeault’s right before narrowly crossing the goal line. It was 2-0, after 10:01 of play in the game. The CH was then dominated 15-1 in terms of shots on goal.
The CH was not at the end of its troubles. Dunn made it 3-0 a little less than five minutes later, after firing a shot that weaved its way through heavy traffic and ended up at the back of the Quebec goaltender’s goal. The crowd present at the Bell Center did not hesitate to boo its favorites after the siren signaling the first intermission.
The second period was a little more hotly contested, but the gap remained the same. Captain Nick Suzuki came knocking on the goal gate on a 3-on-1 run midway through the period, but Jones didn’t flinch and pulled out the pad to fend off the shot .
Tempers flared in the third period between the two teams, who exchanged a few good shoulders. But once again, the Canadian showed indiscipline.
Forward Joel Armia may have to explain himself to the NHL’s Department of Player Safety after hitting hard on Dunn, who had his back to play near the ramp, with less than 10 minutes left in the game. match. He received a minor penalty on the streak.
Wideman was not so lucky and he was sent off for making derogatory comments to a referee.
Beniers then completed in an empty net, with 1:03 to go.
It was the second game between the two teams this season, after the Canadiens’ 4-2 victory in Seattle on December 22. Rookie Shane Wright, whom many considered the Canadiens’ first choice in the last draft, took the opportunity to score his first career goal in the NHL.
On the Canadian side, forward Mike Hoffman returned to the game after being sidelined in the previous two games. He replaced Anthony Richard in the starting lineup.
The Canadiens will host the Nashville Predators on Thursday at the Bell Centre. The Tennessee formation had signed a 6-3 victory against CH on its ice rink on January 3.