Condon sharp for Canadiens in grounding Jets
Third line turns in another strong performance as Habs keep rolling
The skinny: Backup goaltender Mike Condon filled in for the ailing Carey Price and made 18 saves as the Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 Sunday night at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens received another strong performance from the third line as Tomas Fleischmann scored two goals and added an assist while David Desharnais had a goal and two assists. The Canadiens improved to 11-2 on the season and are eight points clear of Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division standings.
No Price, no problem: Montrealers awoke Sunday to the news that Price would be out for at least a week with a lower-body injury. Price did get on the ice to accept the Molson Cup for October, but then settled back to watch Condon win his first start at the Bell Centre. The rookie goaltender lost his shutout when Chris Thorburn scored at 13:57 of the third period. Condon is now 4-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average.
Lord Byron: It hasn’t taken long for Paul Byron to make his mark. He started the Canadiens rolling when he scored a shorthanded goal at 6:34 of the first period. Torrey Mitchell sent Byron into the clear and he pulled the puck wide on his forehand to slip it past Michael Hutchinson. Byron, who was playing his third game in a Montreal uniform, also scored a shorthanded goal Friday in Calgary. Winnipeg had three power plays in the first period, but managed only one shot on goal.
Following up: Shots of any type were
rare in the first period. Each team managed six shots on goal, but the Canadiens made the most of their opportunities when Fleischmann made it 2-0 at 16:26. Hutchinson made the save when Desharnais took the puck hard to the net, but he left a rebound and Fleischmann tapped it home.
Early night for Hutchinson: Ondrej Pavelec relieved Hutchinson after he gave up two more goals in the first 3:02 of the second period. Fleischmann beat him off the rush at the 35-second mark for his fourth goal and Desharnais made it 4-0 with a goal at 3:02. Hutchinson made an initial save on Desharnais, but he left a rebound and Desharnais buried it for his third goal and his 12th point of the season. Desharnais is in a four-way tie for the team scoring lead with former linemate Max Pacioretty and defencemen Andrei Markov and P.K. Subban. Hutchinson, who arrived in Montreal with a 4-0 record and a 1.75 goals-against average, gave up four goals on nine shots.
Power back on: The Canadiens came up empty on their first three power plays, but they connected on their fourth advantage when Markov’s drive from the point caromed off Lars Eller’s skate. It was Eller’s fourth goal of the season.
Coming attractions: This was the first of four consecutive home games for the Canadiens, who resume their rivalry with the Ottawa Senators Tuesday (7:30 p.m., CITY-Montreal, RDS, TSN-690 Radio). The New York Islanders are in town Thursday, followed by the Boston Bruins on Saturday.