There’s an old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, this adage didn’t work out for the Montreal Canadiens as Martin St-Louis opted to use the same lineup as the previous game, which resulted in a 6-3 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.
Montreal Canadiens Highlights
Lars Eller, the Danish center who played for the Canadiens from 2010 to 2016, scored the first goal just under seven minutes into the game, marking the first time this season that Samuel Montembeault allowed a first-period goal. He later scored again in the second period.
The Canadiens struggled offensively early on, not managing to get a shot on Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry until over 13 minutes into the first period. They managed to narrow the deficit just before the first intermission when Montreal defenseman Kaiden Guhle launched a powerful shot from the point for his first goal of the year.
In the second period, the game was tied at 2-2 after Juraj Slafkovsky netted his first of the season, with captain Nick Suzuki providing the assist. This goal marked their fourth power play score in as many games, a notable improvement since they didn’t score any during preseason.
With just over five minutes to go in the second, rookie forward Emil Heineman broke free on a two-on-one counter and scored, marking his second career goal in as many games. Prior to this, the Canadiens had not scored in the second period all season, but that trend changed. This gave Montreal their only lead of the night, which lasted less than two minutes before Eller tied the game again with his second goal, making it 3-3.
However, the Canadiens faltered in the third period, appearing fatigued and missing several scoring opportunities. The Penguins secured the winning goal from their fourth line when Kevin Hayes capitalized on a rebound in front of Montembeault for his second goal of the 2024-25 season.
Cole Caufield’s three-game goal streak ended, and rookie defenseman Lane Hutson, who received enthusiastic cheers with every touch, also failed to score.
Though it was a disappointing loss for the Canadiens, it serves as a reminder that they have considerable work ahead to become a competitive team. It’s worth noting that the Habs have only played four games this season, so there’s no need to panic over this defeat.
The Canadiens will be off until Thursday night when they host the Los Angeles Kings. Additionally, they will be collaborating with Hema-Quebec for their annual Blood Drive at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, so anyone able to donate is encouraged to help out.
