OTTAWA – The Scotiabank NHL100 Classic was a feature of two teams heading suddenly heading in opposite directions.
The Senators got a magnificent performance from Craig Anderson who made 28 saves to backstop the Sens to a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the outdoor event.
To say it was cold would be an understatement. The reported temperature was 12°F at puck drop and shooting the game from ice level was a challenge.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bobby Ryan and Nate Thompson scored for Ottawa.
“It was cold,” Ryan said. “Every period it got colder, but it was worth every second. We had a blast.”
With the win the Senators have stitched together two wins in a row after a miswerable stretch of losses and dismal efforts.
“Hopefully it’s going to give us some confidence,” Senators center Derick Brassard said. “We know we can put on a winning streak.”
Montreal is now the team going cold having lost four of their five and dropping to 14-15-4 on the season.
On Saturday, the Habs were outshot by 10 and lost the face-off exchanges and lost the game across most categories.
“We need more,” Montreal coach Claude Julien said. “We need to create more and we need to create more from the inside. Some nights we have that and tonight we didn’t. Until we figure that out and become more consistent, that’s what you are going to see.”
More than 33,000 fans attended the game despite the frigid conditions.
“It was greater than we could have hoped for,” Karlsson said. “The atmosphere was amazing.”
[WATCH: All Canadiens vs. Senators highlights | RELATED: Complete NHL100 Classic Coverage]
Carey Price made 35 saves in the loss; it was his 10th straight start in the Habs net.
“A couple times we tried to make plays when they weren’t there, and a couple times we tried to put it deep and forecheck when we could have made plays,” Montreal’s Max Pacioretty said. “It just seems like we’re always on the wrong end of those decisions right now. It doesn’t allow for any sustained pressure.”
The Senators have suddenly found their game and made the Habs pay Saturday.
“Half a period in a game of sustaining pressure and creating offense, you’re just never going to score enough goals to win,” Pacioretty added after the loss.
You must be logged in to post a comment.