Familiar face helps beat Ducks
Shaw, waived by Anaheim last month, starts three-goal first period for Canadiens.
MONTREAL — Getting a goal against his former team was sweet for Logan Shaw.
The right winger started a three-goal first period that led the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-2 victory over the Ducks on Saturday. Montreal claimed Shaw on waivers from Anaheim on Jan. 15.
“That one felt pretty good,” Shaw said. “I have a lot of good friends over there.
“It was a big win for the team. It felt pretty good to come out on top. It was obviously a bonus to get a goal. I don’t get a lot of them so when I do they feel pretty good and that felt extra special.”
It was Shaw’s third of the season but his first as a Canadien. He has only 11 goals in 156 NHL games.
He was the only forward to score for Montreal. Jeff Petry had two goals and David Schlemko and Joe Morrow added the others.
The Canadiens ended a three-game losing streak.
It was also a special game for Antti Niemi, who got the start in goal ahead of Carey Price with Montreal playing afternoon games on consecutive days. The Ducks had a 45-29 edge in shots, but Niemi was solid. He also won his last start, on Jan. 19 in Washington.
“Easily one of the best for a long time,” Niemi said of his performance. “Playing with the lead, it was a lot of fun to play.”
The Canadiens had scored only one goal in their previous two games, but their power play came to life against the Ducks, producing three goals in seven chances. It was the reverse of Oct. 20, when the Canadiens had 51 shots in Anaheim but lost 6-2.
Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf wasn’t happy with the officiating from Dave Jackson and Steve Kozari.
“They started calling penalties, that’s the momentum change of the game,” Getzlaf said. “Our kill didn’t get it done and their power play did.”
Corey Perry and Rickard Rakell scored for Anaheim.
The Ducks led 9-0 in shots just under six minutes into the game, but the Canadiens then scored three times on seven attempts to chase starter Ryan Miller at 10:13 in favor of Reto Berra, who was called up on Friday.