HABS LOSE TO DEVILS
Hall scores short-handed winner
DEVILS 2, CANADIENS 1
The bottom line: Taylor Hall scored a short-handed goal at 15:53 of the third period to snap a 1-1 tie as the New Jersey Devils beat the Canadiens 2-1 on Sunday at the Bell Centre. After the Canadiens failed to capitalize on a 5-on-3 advantage for 52 seconds, Hall stepped out of the penalty box and was sent on a breakaway by Travis Zajac. Hall skated in alone on Carey Price to score his 37th goal of the season.
Devils edge closer to playoffs: The win was important for the Devils as they moved seven points ahead of Florida in the battle for one of the final wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have two games in hand, but they can’t afford to lose any games down the stretch and they have to hope the Devils lose their three remaining games.
Carr opens scoring: Daniel Carr gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead when he scored a power-play goal at 19:51 of the first period, beating Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid after taking a feed from Artturi Lehkonen. The goal survived a challenge by Devils coach John Hynes, who claimed the Canadiens were offside. It was Carr’s fifth goal of the season.
Hischier ties the score: The Devils tied the score at 1-1 when rookie Nico Hischier scored his 19th goal at the 26-second mark of the third period. Hischier was battling for position in front of the net when he redirected Sami Vatanen’s shot from the point.
Something special: After giving up three power-play goals to the Penguins on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, the Canadiens managed to kill off all five New Jersey power plays. The Canadiens’ power play went 1-for-4.
Milestone for Price: The goaltender received a loud ovation midway through the first period when it was announced he was playing his 556th game. That ties the late Jacques Plante for the most appearances by a Canadiens goaltender.
Short leash for Schlemko: After David Schlemko missed 12 games with an upper-body injury, coach Claude Julien said he wanted to evaluate the defenceman in a game situation. Schlemko played Saturday night in Pittsburgh and was on the ice for the Penguins’ only two even-strength goals. He was a healthy scratch on Sunday as Mike Reilly returned to the lineup. In another change, Kerby Rychel made his Canadiens debut, while Charles Hudon was a healthy scratch.
Expos’ Staub remembered: There was a moment of silence prior to the game for Rusty Staub, the former Expos star who died last week at age 73. A banner hanging from the Bell Centre rafters commemorates the players who had their numbers retired by the Expos — Staub and Andre Dawson (both wore No. 10) the late Gary Carter (8) and Tim Raines (30).
Theendoftheline: The Canadiens play the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday in the final game at the Bell Centre this season (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690). They wrap up the season with road games Thursday in Detroit and Saturday in Toronto.