Canadiens Lineup

Jonathan Drouin  – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher

Tomas Tatar – Max Domi – Artturi Lehkonen

 Charles Hudon – Jesperi Kotkaniemi –  Joel Armia 

Matthew Peca – Michael Chaput – Nicolas Deslauriers

Victor Mete – Shea Weber

Mike Reilly – Jeff Petry

Brett Kulak – Jordie Benn

Antti Niemi – Carey Price 

Karl Alzner, Kenny Agostino

Andrew Shaw

Suspension

Paul Byron

Game Report

Prior to tonight’s match, it wasn’t clear what kind of game would play out at the Bell Centre. The Coyotes arrived in Montreal in the wee hours of the morning after playing in Ottawa on Tuesday night. A mechanical problem grounded the team plane so the squad from the desert was forced to take a two-and-a-half hour bus ride along the frozen 417.

The Coyotes have been getting wins from a make-shift lineup with several of their star players out with injuries. Arizona came into the game winners of six of their last eight games.

And then there was the distraction of Alex Galchenyuk’s return to Montreal. How would he be received by Canadiens fans?

The answer came quickly. The Bell Centre faithful gave Galchenyuk a loud ovation following a video tribute during the first TV timeout. Galchenyuk acknowledged the crowd with a wave and by saying “thank you.”

To the delight of Canadiens fans, Montreal came away with a 2-1 victory following a very entertaining game. The Coyotes showed none of the fatigue that might have been expected. Arizona was the better team in terms of possession, shots on goal and scoring chances. 

But, once again, it was Carey Price to the rescue making 30 saves to carry his team into the All-Star break with 61 points in 51 games. It was Price’s 20th win of the season (306th NHL win), the ninth time in his career he has reached that milestone.

It was also the 2000th home win in Canadiens franchise history.

Special teams played a big role in this game with the two teams trading power-play goals. And Joel Armia put on a penalty-killing clinic that included several short-handed  scoring chances. Armia has wasted little time making an impact since returning from a knee injury that kept him out of the lineup for 25 games.

But Armia almost played the role of the villain taking a high-sticking penalty with just over five minutes to play in the third period. It looked like a fairy tale chapter would be written when Alex Galchenyuk scored on the ensuing Arizona power-play. But following a coach’s challenge, the Coyotes were determined to be off-side.

Fans will have ten days to savour tonight’s victory (and five wins in their past six games) before welcoming the Habs back to the ice for a Saturday matinee on Super Bowl weekend.

Plus / Minus

▲  Carey Price, Joel Armia, Tomas Tatar

▼  Matthew Peca