The 5-0 shellacking marked the second time in 72 hours this week Winnipeg defeated Montreal — the score was 3-2 on Thursday.
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Would it be safe to suggest the Canadiens might prefer to avoid meeting the Winnipeg Jets in the opening-round of the playoffs — assuming Montreal qualifies for post-season play?
The Jets humiliated Montreal 5-0 Saturday night at the Bell Centre. It marked the second time in 72 hours this week Winnipeg defeated the Canadiens — the score was 3-2 on Thursday.
The teams have met eight times this season, with Winnipeg winning six of those games, although three went to overtime.
Paul Stastny, Nik Ehlers, Derek Forbort, Andrew Copp and Mathieu Perreault scored for the Jets — all the goals coming in the final two periods.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, lost their third successive game and their record now stands at 17-12-9. Montreal’s struggles on home ice continue with the team now 8-8-2 at the Bell Centre.
Connor Helleybuyck, who captured the Vézina Trophy last season, recorded his second shutout this season, although he faced only 19 shots. This also marks his fifth straight campaign with at least 20 wins.
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The Canadiens, who allowed goals in the opening minute of their last two games — and on the first shots by both Toronto and Winnipeg — got off to a better start for a change.
Indeed, the Jets didn’t register a shot until the 12th minute, by which time Toronto had directed six at Hellebuyck. But it mattered little, since neither team scored in the first period.
The snake-bitten Jonathan Drouin, who has now gone 20 goals without a goal, had an open net midway through the period, but failed to bury his opportunity.
Late in the period, Jake Allen made a pair of nice stops — first on Jansen Harkins, followed by a poke-check on Trevor Lewis.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, ended the period by failing to register a shot for 10:32.
Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor came close to ending the goal-less struggle in the eighth minute of the second period, sending a shot that deflected off Allen before hitting the post.
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It was a harbinger of what was about to transpire.
Midway through the period, the Jets capitalized on a poor line change by Montreal. Allen came out of his net to poke-check the puck away from Pierre-Luc Dubois. However, the goaltender couldn’t get set or back into position before he was beaten by Stastny, who scored his 12th at 10:13.
The visitors made it a two-goal advantage with a power-play goal at 16:57. The play started with the Canadiens losing the faceoff. The shot from the point eluded Allen, who failed to track the puck when Mathieu Perreault skated in front.
Canadiens interim head coach Dominique Ducharme challenged the play, citing goaltender interference. While replays appeared to indicate Perreault grazed Allen’s glove — and despite the shot beating him to the glove side — the score was permitted.
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The Jets took a three-goal lead in the final minute of the period when defenceman Forbort beat Allen with a high shot to the glove side from a sharp angle. While it was a magnificently placed shot, it was one Allen undoubtedly would like to have back. And it was only Forbort’s second of the season in 41 games.
Montreal defenceman Victor Mete, who was benched for the third period of Thursday’s loss, predictably found himself a healthy scratch on this night. He was replaced by Otto Leskinen, making his Canadiens’ debut this season, although he played five games a year ago.
Montreal’s hopes for a third-period comeback took a hit when veteran forward Corey Perry — a player capable of scoring — took a 10-minute misconduct at 6:17.
Copp put the game out of reach with a power-play goal at 7:17.
The Canadiens’ homestand continues Monday night against Toronto.
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2021-04-11 01:54:27Z
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