Despite a late scare, the Montreal Canadiens held on for a win against the Philadelphia Flyers.
By Rick Stephens, Rocket Sports, Montreal Canadiens Blogger
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GAME RECAP | Montreal Canadiens 4 vs Philadelphia Flyers 3 | FINAL
Canadiens record: 4-4-1 | 9 points (19th in NHL)
Canadiens Lineup
Forwards
13 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 77 Kirby Dach
40 Joel Armia - 15 Alex Newhook - 91 Oliver Kapanen
17 Josh Anderson - 71 Jake Evans - 11 Brendan Gallagher
55 Michael Pezzetta - 28 Christian Dvorak - 51 Emil Heineman
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 24 Logan Mailloux
48 Lane Hutson - 58 David Savard
72 Arber Xhekaj - 47 Jayden Struble
Goaltenders
Starter: 30 Cayden Primeau
Alternate: 35 Sam Montembeault
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Lucas Condotta
Injuries: Carey Price, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Patrik Laine, Kaiden Guhle, Juraj Slafkovsky, Justin Barron
Game Report
With two weekend victories, the Canadiens have righted the ship bringing their season total to nine points after nine games. Winning both games of a back-to-back is something that the team failed to do all last season.
As was the case on Saturday night, winning the special teams battle was key to the victory. Cole Caufield scored a power play goal, his eighth goal of the season. And the penalty killers were perfect once again.
In addition, the Canadiens feasted on the inexperience of Flyers goaltender Alexei Kolosov. The 22-year-old was making his NHL debut. Montreal sent 11 shots his way in the first period and consistently put bodies in front of the net.
Brendan Gallagher and Nick Suzuki each tallied a goal and an assist. Jake Evans scored the game winner.
Montreal had to withstand a late charge by the Flyers who scored twice in final three minutes. But the Habs held on for the one-goal victory. It was their first road win of the season.
On Friday, Marty St. Louis defiantly stated that he would not be making changes to his hybrid defensive system, that was causing so much confusion in the defensive zone. The head coach changed his tune a day later reverting to more man-to-man coverage. The verdict on the adjustment seems rather clear with the Canadiens notching two wins.
"It definitely helped. I felt like we killed way more plays," said Lane Hutson after Saturday's game.
Quick hits
⦁ Nick Suzuki extended his point streak this season to seven games.
⦁ The Canadiens power play has scored a goal in eight of their nine games.
⦁ Cole Caufield has scored eight goals in nine games this season.
⦁ Josh Anderson was in the lineup despite leaving Saturday's game in the third period after blocking a shot. Lucas Condotta, recalled from the Laval Rocket on Saturday, was a healthy scratch.
Up Next
The Canadiens return home to host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
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