By Canadian Press

Habs lose to Chicago, own NHL’s worst record after Cup run

Jan 13, 2022 | 8:54 PM

CHICAGO (AP) — Philipp Kurashev scored 2:24 into overtime and the Chicago Blackhawks beat Montreal 3-2 Thursday night, dropping the defending Eastern Conference champion Canadiens to dead last in the NHL.

Montreal has dropped five straight and is 1-9-3 in its past 13 games. The Canadiens are 7-24-5 overall, falling behind the Arizona Coyotes for the worst record in hockey a season after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final.

Dominik Kubalik and Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, which won its third in a row. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 27 shots.

Jeff Petry and Mike Hoffman scored for Montreal, and Sam Montembeault stopped 28 shots.

Kurashev piled into Montembeault’s crease during overtime and put the puck in the goal as the net came off its moorings. A replay review confirmed the puck crossed the goal line first and that Chicago was onside on the play.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

Kane tied it at 2 on a power play, ending his 13-game goal drought 2:21 into the thir with a deep-angle wrist shot.

Montreal had only two shots on goal in the first period but rebounded to take the lead in the second on Petry’s first goal of the season and Hoffman’s first in 14 games.

Chicago dominated the first period with 13 shots, but only Kubalik beat Montembeault, with a wrist shot on a breakaway at 7:42.

NOTES

Each team was 1 of 4 on the power play. … Montreal defenseman Chris Wideman was suspended one game without pay by the NHL for a head-butt against Boston forward Erik Haula on Wednesday. He’ll forfeit $3,750. … With goaltender Jake Allen sidelined by an undisclosed injury, the Canadiens called up Cayden Primeau from the taxi squad to back up Montembeault and brought up goalie Michael McNiven from Laval to the taxi squad. … Chicago’s Lukas Reichel played in his first NHL game. He was the Blackhawks’ top pick in the 2020 draft, selected 17th overall. … Forward Alex DeBrincat was the lone Blackhawk named to the Central Division All-Star team. Forward Nick Suzuki was the only Canadien picked for the Atlantic Division squad. It’s the first NHL All-Star Game for each.

COVID COMINGS AND GOINGS

Canadiens defenseman Kale Clague exited COVID-19 protocol and rejoined the team. … Blackhawks forwards Dylan Strome and Kirby Dach went into protocols, while forwards Brandon Hagel and Sam Lafferty were cleared out of protocols and placed on the roster.

UP NEXT

Montreal continues a six-game trip Monday at Arizona. Saturday’s home game with New Jersey has been postponed because of COVID-19-triggered provincial restrictions on attendance in Quebec.

Chicago hosts Anaheim on Saturday before going to Seattle on Monday.

___

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Associated Press