Giants face Redskins, questions about future
Canadiens 3, Bruins 0
Brendan Gallagher and Max Domi scored 1:21 apart midway into the first period, and Carey Price made it standup with 33 saves for his first shutout of the season to lead Montreal to a win over Boston on Saturday night. The Canadiens snapped a six-game losing streak against the Bruins, with the last victory coming at home on November 8, 2016. It was Price's 41st career shutout. The Bruins lost for the first time at home this season after winning their first four — all in regulation. They were the last NHL team to lose at home. Tuukka Rask made 20 saves. Gallagher gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead 9:18 into the game when he beat Rask on a tough-angle shot. The winger fired a wrister from the right circle that slipped into the net between Rask's left arm and the post. During a delayed penalty, Domi's hustle led to his goal that made it 2-0 at 10:39. Artturi Lehkonen was hooked breaking in alone and the puck slid behind the net where it collected it and sent it out front. Domi charged in, got the puck and shifted Rask out of position before firing it into the net under the cross bar. The game lacked any real intensity in the first meeting of the season between the longtime rivals; mainly because Montreal dominated defensively, limiting Boston's chances with tight defense. The Bruins pulled Rask with just under three minutes to play for an extra skater, and even that didn't get them any good scoring chances before Jordie Benn banked home any empty-netter with 29 seconds left.
Islanders 6, Flyers 1
Brock Nelson scored two goals and Robin Lehner stopped 22 shots, leading the Islanders to the victory.
Leo Komarov and Anthony Beauvillier also scored to help the Islanders take a 3-0 lead through two periods in a game between teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Nelson scored in the first and third periods in his third straight game with a goal.
A playoff team last season, Philadelphia has lost three straight games and four of five overall. Jori Lehtera scored for the Flyers.
Devils 3, Panthers 2
Kyle Palmieri had a goal and an assist, Keith Kinkaid made 35 saves and New Jersey stopped a three-game slide.
Taylor Hall and Blake Coleman also scored for the Devils, who won for the first time since opening the season with four consecutive victories. Nico Hischier had two assists.
East Rutherford, N.J. — The Washington Redskins could not have picked a better time to play the New York Giants.
The NFC East-leading Redskins (4-2) have won two straight, are coming off a big win over Dallas, and now face a team that's seen its management trade cornerback Eli Apple and defensive tackle Damon Harrison — two starters — for late-round draft picks in the week leading to Tuesday's NFL trading deadline.
It's clearly a housecleaning as the Giants (1-6) struggle through a second straight dismal season.
How the Giants react remains to be seen.
The bottom line is the Redskins should be licking their chops heading into Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium. New York has lost four in a row and won four times in 23 games over the last two seasons.
Washington left tackle Trent Williams is wary, insisting the so-called easy game might be a distraction.
"You're going through so much that football is your sanctuary," Williams said of the Giants. "Football is where you kind of go to let off frustration. We can go in there and look at them from an outside perspective and say, 'All right, they're going through a lot. They should easily lay down and let us win this game.'
"In reality, no matter what they're going through, playing on Sunday can fix everything. When your building is on fire and you win, it kind of puts it off for a second."
The Giants were adamant in saying they will show up Sunday.
"We're not throwing in the towel at all," said B.W. Webb, who will probably replace Apple. "That's disrespectful to us players. We don't go into any game thinking we are just going to throw it away. We fight every week for our families, our kids and each other. It's disrespectful when we hear that, that someone says we are tanking or something like that."
Some things to watch on REDSKINS AT GIANTS 1 p.m. MetLife Stadium, Ch. 61
Sunday:
Trade aftermath
The trades of Apple to the Saints and Harrison to the Lions create opportunities for Webb and tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. Webb has been the Giants' nickel back. He probably will start at cornerback, like he did when Apple missed a game in Houston with a groin injury. Coincidently, the Giants won. Tomlinson has been in the rotation at tackle. He probably will start with rookie B.J. Hill.
With Harrison gone, the Skins are sure to test them with Peterson.
Watching Saquon
Just like everyone else who watches football, Washington's Adrian Peterson has been impressed by Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley.
"From what I've seen so far, he shows some God-given ability. Great patience. His lower-body strength and balance is amazing. He flows," Peterson said.
"I always sit back and watch young guys when they come in, and he's one of those guys that really excites me."
O line
The Giants thought they solved their offensive line problems signing left tackle Nate Solder and guard Pat Omameh as free agents and drafting guard Will Hernandez in the second round. Despite having Barkley in the backfield, the Giants rank 30th in rushing and Eli Manning has been sacked 24 times.
Solder and Hernandez have struggled on the left side the past two weeks. Expect the Redskins to probe there.
Giants coach Pat Shurmur expects to use the same combination as last week, with Spencer Pulley starting at center and John Greco at right guard. Chad Wheeler is the right tackle. AP Pro Football Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.