OTTAWA – The Canadian was rubbing shoulders with a power play unit operating at full speed and he paid the price, Wednesday evening at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Drake Batherson et Brady Tkachuk scored on the power play in the second period in addition to each amassing an assist, Cam Talbot stopped 22 shots and the Ottawa Senators defeated Montreal 3-2.
The Canadiens took five minor penalties in the second period, opening the door for the Senators, who took the opportunity to turn their 1-0 lead into a three-goal cushion.
The Senators had scored 10 power-play goals in their previous six games.
Kirby Roof was guilty of three of those penalties, the last of which was for unsportsmanlike conduct following speaking his mind to the referees.
“His misconduct penalty, you can’t do that. The other two penalties he got… ‘Anyway’…,” St-Louis said, wishing to move on to the next question.
“You saw the game. You have to control your emotions and it’s hard. It’s hard for everyone, added St-Louis a little later, following having regained his composure himself. You have to try to control that. »
That’s it Christian Dvorak relaunched the Canadian (14-13-2) each scoring a goal in the third period, but the damage was done. Samuel Montembeault made 28 saves.
“It’s a shame, the result tonight, insisted St-Louis. At five once morest five, I loved our match. The punishments hurt us. »
Shane Pinto also hit the target for Senators (13-14-2)who won a third game in a row. Alex DeBrincat racked up three assists.
Jonathan Drouin was back in action with the Canadiens following missing 13 games with an upper body injury. Rem Pitlick was left out to make room for him in the lineup.
The Senators were without several important elements, including forwards Josh Norris et Tim Stützle.
The Canadian will play once more Thursday, when the Anaheim Ducks will be at the Bell Center.
A fatal period
The Canadian started the game strong, taking four shots on goal and another that hit the post before the first whistle following 4:07 of play.
The Senators got their first shot on goal following just 12:26 of play, when Travis Hamonic attempted a long shot that Montembeault easily stopped.
“We should have come out of the first with a good lead,” admitted St-Louis.
The Canadian paid dearly for his lack of opportunism when everything turned upside down in the second period. This time, the Senators fired the first 13 shots on net, including three that found the back of the net.
Pinto got the ball rolling with a 2-on-1 attack 1:28 into the game.
Batherson and Tkachuk then moved the ropes on the power play at 5:41 and 8:02 respectively.
Johnathan Kovacevic fired the first shot on goal for the Canadian in the second period following 9:16 of play, when his punt from center ice had to be stopped by Talbot.
Dach redeemed his indiscipline in the second period by restarting the Canadian following 8:05 of play in the last third. He took advantage of a discount on the back of Jake Evans to defeat Talbot.
Dvorak then made it 3-2 with 6:48 to go, scoring on an assist from Nick Suzuki during a delayed penalty once morest the Senators.
The Canadian attempted a final charge once morest Talbot’s net by replacing Montembeault with an additional striker late in the game. There was no magic in the final moments for the crew at Suzuki this time around.
