Jones stops 31 shots as Sharks pip Canadiens 2-1 Flames edge Wild
SAN JOSE, California, Dec 3: Martin Jones came within 80 seconds of a shutout. Sometimes, thats the sort of stingy performance it takes to beat Canadiens goalie Carey Price.
Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski scored in the first period, Jones stopped 31 shots and the San Jose Sharks extended their mastery of Montreal at home by beating the Canadiens 2-1 on Friday night in a matchup of division leaders.
Jones won his third straight and the Sharks improved to 8-0-2 against the Canadiens in San Jose since November 1999. Pavelski also had an assist, and Joe Thornton got two assists.
Price was efficient after giving up the two early goals, one on a power play and the other on an odd-man rush. He finished with 28 saves for Montreal, and Andrew Lehkonen scored a power-play goal late in the third period.
The Canadiens failed to maintain pressure against Jones, who turned away several pointblank shots early and then was rarely tested.
The Atlantic Division leaders have gone consecutive games without earning a point for the first time this season. Meanwhile, the Pacific Division-leading Sharks have won three straight and six of seven.
Flames 3, Wild 2
In Calgary, Alberta, Sean Monahan’s splitsecond decision sent the Calgary Flames to their second consecutive win.
Monahan waited out Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk before snapping a shot over his right pad for the shootout winner as Calgary edged the Wild 3-2 on Friday night.
‘’I had no idea what I was doing, to be honest,’’ Monahan acknowledged. ‘’I thought I was going to come in and go high blocker, but it wasn’t there. He’s pretty tall, so I just tried a little move and lucky enough something opened up.’’
Calgary goalie Chad Johnson then stopped Charlie Coyle’s attempt at the other end of the ice to seal the victory. ‘’It’s nice when you get the lead,’’ said Johnson, who commended Monahan. ‘’If you can get a lead in the shootout, it gives you confidence. You have a little bit more breathing room.’’ Kris Versteeg and Mikael Backlund scored in regulation for the Flames (12-13-2), who are 4-1-1 in their past six games.