Canadiens Lineup

Tomas Tatar – Nate Thompson – Brendan Gallagher

Jonathan Drouin – Max Domi – Andrew Shaw 

Paul Byron – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia 

Artturi Lehkonen – Matthew Peca – Charles Hudon

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Jordie Benn

Carey Price – Antti Niemi

Christian Folin, Nicolas Deslauriers, Phillip Danault

none

Game Report

It was a game that both teams needed, each with a tenuous grip on a playoff position. But given that the Canadiens were riding a four-game losing streak, maybe they needed the win just a little bit more. 

It wasn’t an easy nor convincing win for the Canadiens. But it was two points nonetheless, points that may prove to be crucial in the playoff push.

The game was mistake-filled by each team. Montreal got out to a two-goal lead and then faltered. Columbus tied it. A timely goal by Tomas Tatar and strong goaltending by Carey Price proved to be the difference in the game.

With Phillip Danault attending to family matters, Claude Julien missed a prime opportunity to address two pressing issues: entrusting an elevated role to Jesperi Kotkaniemi and instilling the barest minimum of accountability in Jonathan Drouin’s irresponsible game. 

The head coach chose to do neither, instead catapulting Nate Thompson into the first line centre spot. Thompson played admirably in his 17:21 but contributed little to the Habs offence.

Meanwhile Drouin had the most icetime of any Canadiens forward and was on by both Columbus goals. It was Kotkaniemi who assisted on the winning goal taking a shift on the top line  between Tatar and Brendan Gallagher.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Tomas Tatar

▼  Jonathan Drouin, Mike Reilly, Brett Kulak, Charles Hudon, Matthew Peca, Andrew Shaw