Canadiens’ Sean Monahan scores late to spoil Patrick Roy’s return

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It’s factor Sean Monahan doesn’t have social media, since many on that platform are suggesting the Canadiens’ centre might be traded earlier than the March 8 deadline.

There’s little doubt Monahan’s worth to a different potential suitor elevated exponentially Thursday evening. He scored two objectives, together with the winner with 2:12 remaining in regulation time, whereas including an help within the Canadiens’ 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders on the Bell Centre.

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The victory ended Montreal’s three-game shedding streak whereas bettering the workforce’s file to 20-21-7 heading into Saturday evening’s contest at Pittsburgh — the Canadiens’ ultimate match earlier than a week-long bye throughout which the workforce received’t play or follow.

The win additionally ruined Patrick Roy‘s homecoming, the previous Canadiens’ goaltending nice named New York’s head coach final weekend following the firing of Lane Lambert. The Islanders are 1-2 because the change.

The Canadiens’ group, in a cultured transfer, confirmed a montage of Roy in the course of the singing of the Canadian nationwide anthem, following which the spectators erupted in an enormous ovation as he was proven on the scoreboard.

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The Islanders cancelled their morning skate, not making Roy out there to the media till late afternoon, hoping his presence wouldn’t be a distraction. Whereas the tribute ought to have offered the guests with momentum, it was the Canadiens who jumped to a 3-0 lead earlier than 13 minutes had elapsed — the objectives coming from Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Monahan.

It was Suzuki’s first aim in 11 video games, whereas Caufield scored his team-leading seventeenth this season. Suzuki and Monahan scored on the ability play.

“Positively received the chills,” captain Suzuki mentioned of the tribute to Roy. “I used to be on the ice so didn’t actually know what was happening. He’s a legend round right here. It was good of the followers to provide an ovation like that.

“Generally you overthink it,” he added. “We’ve performed in Tampa for (head coach Martin St. Louis). It was the identical factor and we haven’t at all times performed our greatest there. When there’s quite a lot of emotion you actually wish to have begin. We discovered a approach to get three within the first interval. It was a reasonably full recreation from us and that’s what we wanted … the win. That’s all that issues proper now.”

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St. Louis, like Suzuki, mentioned he additionally wasn’t fairly sure what was transpiring in the course of the singing of O Canada.

“It undoubtedly was an excellent second,” he mentioned. “I feel it’s undoubtedly properly deserved. I didn’t actually know what they had been cheering for, till I regarded on the (scoreboard). I suppose they needed to get it out of the way in which early. I feel it was an enormous second for Patrick and the followers. I feel our workforce fed off that power.”

Whereas the objectives had been the primary for Monahan since Jan. 10, he contributed seven assists over a four-game span and has been enjoying properly. Monahan, who had a team-leading 5 photographs in opposition to New York, now has 13 objectives and 34 factors in 48 video games. He’s one in all seven Montreal gamers but to overlook a recreation.

“I feel (Monahan) is enjoying some good hockey proper now,” St. Louis mentioned. “I feel the play of (Joel Armia) has helped. I feel our power-play has helped him. I wouldn’t say it’s one factor. For an offensive participant, when your power-play is getting you some objectives … it helps you retain your confidence. Generally you’re enjoying properly as a result of your linemates are enjoying properly. I’m not taking something away from (Monahan).”

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After Bo Horvat beat Samuel Montembeault early within the second interval whereas the Islanders loved a two-man benefit for 1:18, a reckless act by Brendan Gallagher almost value the Canadiens. Gallagher acquired a five-minute main, and match penalty, for successful to the top on defenceman Adam Pelech within the impartial zone. Gallagher left his ft to ship an elbow on Pelech, who went to the workforce’s dressing room.

Mathew Barzal and Kyle Palmieri scored on the following energy play, and Gallagher will undoubtedly face a suspension for his lack of self-discipline.

“I discovered we performed with fireplace fairly a bit tonight — and we nearly received burned,” St. Louis mentioned.

However due to Monahan, and Caufield, who created a turnover and began the play that led to the profitable aim, the Canadiens salvaged the night.

“I felt we competed, stayed with it,” Monahan mentioned. “Clearly spent an excessive amount of time within the penalty field, however discovered a approach to win. We would have liked that, particularly right here on residence ice.”

Montembeault stopped 43 photographs for a .935 save share — and might need made Roy begrudgingly appreciative of his work within the course of.

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1

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