Canadiens didn't want torch in dwelling opener to beat Blackhawks 3-2

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The Canadiens left their well-known torch someplace behind the locker room for Saturday night time’s dwelling opener on the Bell Centre.

They didn’t want it, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 to earn three of a potential 4 factors from their first two video games this season with a 1-0-1 document.

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The pre-game ceremony with participant introductions was toned down from earlier years. It was an indication of how this new administration group desires to give attention to trying ahead as an alternative of trying again on the franchise’s historical past with 24 Stanley Cups — the final one 30 years in the past — and the handing down of the torch to begin each season.

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Cole Caufield, Tanner Pearson and Sean Monahan (short-handed) scored for the Canadiens. Tyler Johnson scored each objectives for the Blackhawks, together with one with 1:21 left within the third interval and goalie Petr Mrazek on the bench for an additional attacker.

Issues actually received tense for the Canadiens after Monahan took a high-sticking penalty with 22 seconds left. Seth Jones blasted a degree shot off the goalpost after which Mike Matheson and Nick Suzuki blocked photographs within the remaining 5 seconds because the Canadiens held on for the win with Samuel Montembeault in aim.

For Caufield, it was his second aim in two video games, and he now has 50 objectives in 85 video games since Martin St. Louis took over as head coach.

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For Pearson, it was his first aim since final Oct. 28 with the Vancouver Canucks in a season that ended after solely 14 video games due to a damaged hand that required surgical procedure. It was Monahan’s first aim since his remaining recreation with the Canadiens final season on Dec. 5 earlier than being sidelined with a damaged foot after which a groin harm that required surgical procedure.

The Canadiens are a a lot better group with a wholesome Monahan within the lineup. They’d a 12-11-2 document final season earlier than he was sidelined.

On this night time, Monahan completed with a aim, an help and a plus-3 differential, whereas profitable 14 of the 16 faceoffs he took (88 per cent). His short-handed aim got here on a breakaway after a gorgeous one-handed cross from Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Monahan beat Mrazek with a low shot to the stick aspect.

“It was my previous goalie in junior (with the Ottawa 67’s) and I believe I do know the place to go on him,” Monahan mentioned.

Spoken like a real veteran.

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Monahan’s veteran presence is big for the younger, rebuilding Canadiens. The 29-year-old mentioned he doesn’t know the way to clarify his position on the group, however he appears to have the ability to decelerate the velocity of the sport or velocity it up when he’s on the ice. No matter works finest for the group.

“I simply try to play with the sport I do know,” he mentioned. “I believe there’s completely different conditions within the recreation the place you try to change momentum or sluggish issues down or velocity issues again up. Typically you need to maintain it easy, typically you’re making an attempt to make performs. I try to be a man that may assist the group and I assume calm the group down and be prepared for the next shift.

“I simply try to make the sport as simple as potential,” Monahan added. “I believe while you do that you just’re conserving it easy.”

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Head coach Martin St. Louis mentioned the largest factor Monahan brings is consistency.

“It looks like his dangerous video games should not very dangerous,” St. Louis mentioned. “His dangerous is sweet. … You already know what you’re going to get each night time. He’s very accountable. He performs each side of the puck. Good offensively, very conscious defensively. Nice on attracts. There’s lots to love with a wholesome Sean Monahan, for positive.”

A lot of the main target heading into the sport was on the Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard, the No. 1 general decide at this yr’s NHL Draft. The 18-year-old had 5 photographs on aim and picked up an help, giving him 1-2-3 totals in his first three video games. Bedard was booed virtually each time he touched the puck and he additionally took Monahan’s high-stick to the face within the remaining minute, drawing blood.

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The Canadiens took seven penalties, however killed all of them off, together with a 5-on-3 benefit the Blackhawks had for 45 seconds within the first interval. The Canadiens failed to attain on their two power-play possibilities.

There was some dangerous information for the Canadiens when Kirby Dach left the sport within the first interval after struggling a lower-body harm that seemed to be to his proper knee. St. Louis mentioned Dach could be re-evaluated on Sunday.

“You by no means need to see a man get damage, particularly a man like Kirby,” Monahan mentioned. “You’re feeling for him. I noticed him proper after we got here in after the (first) interval. He’s in good spirits. I believe you try to win the sport for him.

“I believed it was a great group effort,” Monahan added. “We had been within the field lots and all people caught collectively.”

The Canadiens might be again in motion Tuesday when the Minnesota Wild go to the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM).

The torch received’t be there.

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