The Montreal Canadiens fell 3-0 to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday evening, ending an eight-game successful streak simply hours after clinching a second straight journey to the playoffs.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 18 photographs for his first shutout of the season, whereas Cody Glass and Timo Meier scored for New Jersey (40-24-3), which is combating to maintain its slim post-season possibilities alive. Connor Brown added an empty-net objective and Jack Hughes supplied two assists.
Jacob Fowler made 17 saves for Montreal (45-22-10) after the Canadiens capped an undefeated five-game highway journey with a 4-3 shootout win over the Devils on Saturday.
Cole Caufield remained one objective wanting his fiftieth for the second straight sport after scoring his forty eighth and forty ninth on Thursday towards the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens punched their post-season ticket earlier Sunday after the Detroit Crimson Wings misplaced 5-4 to the Minnesota Wild, making Montreal the primary Canadian NHL group to safe a playoff berth this season.
Meier opened the scoring with a tap-in at 10:47 of the primary interval after a shot from Jack Hughes went by means of Fowler’s legs and hit the put up. Glass burst by means of the impartial zone and beat Fowler five-hole to double the lead at 18:12 within the second.
TAKEAWAYS
Canadiens: Out of sync after an extended highway journey. The group was able to erupt with Caufield chasing his fiftieth, particularly after the Canadiens secured a playoff berth, however the gamers got here out flat and registered simply eight photographs within the first two durations. Montreal additionally went 0-for-4 on the ability play.
Devils: Jack Hughes prolonged his level streak towards the Canadiens to 6 video games (4 objectives, eight assists), courting again to Nov. 7, 2024.
KEY MOMENT
Caufield had back-to-back one-timers from the left circle halfway by means of the third interval as the group rose in anticipation, solely to groan when the photographs sailed large. Hordes of followers surrounded the glass with indicators for Caufield throughout warm-ups, and one spectator held up the No. 50 in huge gold birthday balloons.
KEY STAT
The Devils gained their eleventh consecutive highway sport in Montreal, the longest lively run within the NHL towards a single opponent. The Canadiens haven’t defeated New Jersey on the Bell Centre since Tomas Plekanec scored the additional time winner in a 2-1 win on Dec. 14, 2017.
UP NEXT
Devils: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday.
Canadiens: Host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.