After a weekend in which the team collected two points out of a possible four, the Canadiens were back in action tonight. For the occasion, it faced the Calgary Flames.
This was Sean Monahan’s second game against his former team.
Here’s the Montreal line-up.
Tonight’s lineup
Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4V5N673DuG
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 15, 2023
And the Flames’:
Tonight’s @SafewayCanada Projected Lineup!
– Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) November 14, 2023
Before the game, the home team honoured Pierre Turgeon, who played 104 games in Montreal.
A rather ordinary ceremony, just like the presentation of the players at the start of the season…
Be yours to hold it high… like the old days 🔥
Be yours to hold it high… again!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/nA9wEY8flw
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) November 15, 2023
Despite numerous shots from both sides, neither team managed to score in the first period.
In the second period, Nazem Kadri finally opened the scoring with a fine individual play.
Kadri’s goal makes it 1-0 Flames. pic.twitter.com/ZmtG9QfJ4I
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 15, 2023
But exactly 17 seconds later, Gustav Lindstrom, in front of his family, scored his first goal for the Canadiens.
Juraj Slafkovsky finally got his name on the score sheet.
Gustav Lindstrom’s goal tonight and first of the season pic.twitter.com/BKCcXZ4MZzz
– HFTV (@HFTVSports) November 15, 2023
Moments later, Elias Lindholm’s skate hit Kaiden Guhle in the face.
More fear than harm, though.
Kaiden Guhle leaves the ice after an incident with a skate blade.
It could have been much, much worse.
Let’s get neckguards on everyone, asap. pic.twitter.com/BYB9dTEZiJ
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 15, 2023
Before the end of the period, Connor Zary, in his sixth NHL game, scored his third goal.
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What a pass from Rasmus Andersson on the sequence!
Connor Zary scores! A beautiful set play by the Flames off a faceoff.
Martin Pospisil with another point as well.
2-1 Calgary! pic.twitter.com/1YVJ3mIjIC
– Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 15, 2023
Calgary thought they had given themselves a two-goal lead early in the third period, but a challenge from Martin St-Louis brought the goal back.
Still 2-1 to the visitors at that point.
Andrew Mangiapane scores but the goal is called back because the Flames were offside. pic.twitter.com/dTWIYto8hT
– Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) November 15, 2023
In the third period, the coach decided to reunite Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki. The two had been separated five days ago and hadn’t enjoyed any 5-on-5 playing time together since.
But their reunion changed nothing in the end, as the Flames survived repeated attacks.
Final score: 2-1 Flames.
Jacob Markstrom was very good in his team’s victory, stopping 33 of 34 shots.
Montreal next plays the Golden Knights in Montreal on Thursday.
Extension
– New information on the Kings in Quebec City.
Kings in Quebec City:
colleague @SebBovetSRC clarifies that, according to a source at Quebecor, the exclusive contract was signed in September 2023 with the Kings.
The Canadiens contacted Quebecor in October 2023. The die was cast, according to the company.
– Alexandre Gascon (@GasconAlexandre) November 15, 2023
– Absentees were part of the game.
Few things are more frustrating for an athlete: pic.twitter.com/s8qffYKHMI
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 15, 2023
– Let’s celebrate.
The Habs didn’t allow a goal in the very first min of the game for the second straight time 🙏😅
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 15, 2023
– Josh Anderson really can’t buy a goal. He must be jealous of his teammate, Lindstrom.
Markstrom robs Anderson and honestly I’m starting to feel very bad for him pic.twitter.com/2xg5GOEXX2
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) November 15, 2023
– Can’t say he’s not trying.
#Habs Cole Caufield with a game-high seven shots through two periods. He has only one goal in the last eight games. #HabsIO
– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) November 15, 2023