The Montreal Canadiens started a four-game home stay on the right foot with a 5-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night at the Bell Centre.
In a duel bringing together the two worst teams in the Eastern Association, the Canadian (6-10-2) joined the Blue Jackets (6-9-2) in 15th place thanks to two goals scored in one minute 48 seconds towards the midway through the third period, those of Lucas Condotta (1st) and Jake Evans (3rd).
Josh Anderson (4th) added a power play goal by deflecting a Mike Matheson shot with just over four minutes left in regulation.
Matheson (1st), in the first period, and Nick Suzuki (7th), with the eventual winning goal late in the second period, also beat Daniil Tarasov, who faced 30 shots.
We managed our possessions, we spent a lot of time in the offensive zone and we managed them better. We were more connected offensively
analyzed head coach Martin St-Louis.
The Canadian won a second victory in three games by largely beating the Blue Jackets at the Bell Center.
Photo : The Canadian Press / Christinne Muschi
Cole Caufield and Joel Armia also contributed to this gain by collecting two assists each.
Defender Dante Fabbro, in the second period, scored the Blue Jackets’ only goal against Samuel Montembeault, who stopped 25 pucks.
Montembeault also praised the work of the players in front of him and he agreed to say that the defensive game has been tightening up for some time.
In the last few matches, we really did a better job on that. Tonight too
he first emphasized.
The guys work hard, we are more connected in the defensive zone, he later added. We spend a lot less time in our zone too. Our execution is better in the defensive zone, we make fewer turnovers and it costs us less on that side.
The Canadian played this match without the services of veteran defender David Savard, who had an upper body injury.
His absence, confirmed around 30 minutes before the start of the match, meant that Jayden Struble, who was expected to be left out, was finally able to put on the uniform, alongside Arber Xhekaj.
The Canadian will play their next game Monday evening when they host the Edmonton Oilers.
A first in a month
Before Saturday’s game, the Canadiens’ defenders had only scored three goals since the start of the season, the most recent of which — on October 19 against the New York Islanders — was obtained by Logan Mailloux, who has since been returned to the Laval Rocket.
Matheson ended this drought and, in the process, his own lethargy by collecting his first goal since April 13, in Ottawa, during a minor penalty to Damon Severson.
After receiving a pass from Caufield, Matheson, from the top of the slot, fired a ball against which Tarasov had no chance at 4:59. Especially since Juraj Slafkovsky obstructed his vision by jumping into the air, right in front of him.
The Canadian’s six defenders finished the game with 11 shots, including three by Matheson.
We kept things simple and put more pucks on net. It’s a cliché thing to say, but it sure works.
remarked Matheson when talking about the contribution of defensemen on the offensive level on Saturday.
It was the only moment of celebration for the Habs during these first 20 minutes, despite collecting 16 shots.
The Montreal attack showed less bite in the second period, to the point of spending around 10 minutes without testing the Blue Jackets goalie.
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Arber Xhekaj checks Yegor Chinakhov.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Christine Muschi
The visitors took advantage of this inertia of the Canadian players to tie the score at 7:40. Taking advantage of heavy traffic near the Habs net, Fabbro thwarted Montembeault with a low shot, from the glove side.
Martin St-Louis’ men found a little energy before the end of the engagement, enough to take the lead thanks to a wrist shot from Suzuki on the side of Tarasov’s glove, which undoubtedly already looked better .
The period was also marked by a fight between Arber Zhekaj and Mathieu Olivier. Even though the latter is three inches and 14 pounds lighter than the Canadian’s strong man, he defended himself rather well.
In the third period, real good scoring chances were rare on either side. Brendan Gallagher had a golden one with just over 11 minutes remaining, when he took advantage of an opening on the right flank. His shot, however, ended up in the protective net behind Tarasov.
Less than three minutes later, Condotta didn’t miss his own to give the Habs an important two-goal cushion with 8:48 to go.
Evans scored less than two minutes later to seal the match.
