Andrew Shaw helps Canadiens to franchise record with 5-0 win over Red Wings

“Last year I had a terrible start and I didn’t start great this year again. It’s about learning from those experiences and busting through that wall.”

Shaw’s goal was his first since Montreal’s season opener on Oct. 13. The third-line winger also recorded his first multi-point game with the Canadiens.

The 25 year old made it 4-0 for Montreal in the second period when Alex Galchenyuk’s slapshot from the point went off Shaw’s left skate and in.

Shaw says he was inspired by his good friend Bryan Bickell, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis this week. The pair were teammates in Chicago where they won two Stanley Cups together.

“A friend, a great guy all around,” said Shaw of Bickell, who now plays for the Carolina Hurricanes. “For him to go through this, it’s gotta be hard. He’s a tough kid. He’s strong mentally and physically. He’s surrounded by great people and they’re going to help him through this.

“I talked to him yesterday and his spirits were good for his situation.”

Carey Price did the rest for Montreal, making 25 saves for his second shutout of the season.

Perhaps Price’s best stop of the evening came midway through the second period as he snagged Luke Glendening’s deflection out of midair. Nine minutes into the third, Price denied Gustav Nyquist on the breakaway to preserve the shutout.

“The way he’s playing, he gives us a lot of confidence as a team,” said coach Michel Therrien of his goalie, who remains unbeaten this year. “He’s a true leader. The way he’s performing, there are times we have breakdowns and he’s there to make the big save.”

Jimmy Howard and Price entered the game as the NHL’s two best goaltenders. Howard’s league-best .961 save percentage was slightly better than Price’s .953 at the start of the encounter.

That changed rather quickly on Saturday, as Howard was beaten early and often.

The Red Wings (8-7-1) netminder was pulled after giving up five goals on 25 shots. It was the first time this year Howard conceded more than two goals in a game. Petr Mrazek made 12 saves in relief.

“They did a better job in front of our net than we did in front of theirs,” said Howard, whose save percentage dropped to .943. “They got their sticks on everything and they made a lot of good little plays.

“They were hounding the puck all night. They showed why they’ve been playing so great.”

Montreal (13-1-1) also got goals from Phillip Danault, Paul Byron, Shea Weber and Max Pacioretty.

Danault got Montreal on the board at 4:17 of the first period. After Shaw’s initial shot squeaked by Howard, Danault had the easiest of tap-ins with the puck sitting idly in the crease.

Byron made it 2-0 just a few minutes later as he went top shelf on a breakaway after the puck bobbled on Niklas Kronwall at the blue line.

Weber capped off Montreal’s dominant first period with a power-play goal at 19:00, giving Howard no chance on a blistering one-timer.

Following Shaw’s goal, Pacioretty made it 5-0 for the home side 16:49 of the second.

Notes: Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha made his season debut. … Prior to puck drop, the Canadiens paid tribute to Leonard Cohen, who died this week.

Kelsey Patterson, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Andrew Shaw helps Canadiens to franchise record with 5-0 win over Red Wings

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