ST. PAUL, Minn.
Minnesota had the bounces go its way and the Canadiens had little or no offence in a 2-1 loss to the Wild on Wednesday night at the Xcel Energy Center.
Darcy Kuemper had a relatively easy night and had a shutout until Alex Galchenyuk scored with 58 seconds remaining in the game.
Bad habit continues: Slow starts have been the norm for the Canadiens this season, with the opposition scoring first in 18 of their 27 games. In this game, Minnesota needed only 19 seconds to grab the lead. Mikko Koivu won the faceoff against Tomas Plekanec and directed the puck to Jason Zucker. Carey Price was trying to see through a goalmouth battle between P.K. Subban and Charlie Coyle when Zucker launched a shot from the corner. The shot went off the post, hit Price in the shoulder and grazed the post a second time before it went in the net.
Appeal denied: The Canadiens complained that Jason Pominville’s stick was above the crossbar when he deflected Christian Folin’s shot from the point at 12:10 of the second period. Referee Mark Lemelin ruled that it was a good goal and that call stood after the war room in Toronto reviewed the play for several minutes and said the video was inconclusive.
Change in momentum: After being outshot 30-10 during the first two periods, the Canadiens put the pressure on to start the third period and outshot Minnesota 6-0 over the first six minutes. But the momentum shifted back when Eric Tangradi received a major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Folin. The Wild failed to get a shot during the five-minute advantage, but the Canadiens lost their edge. There were nine minutes left when the penalty expired and the Habs managed only two more shots on goal.
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![A shot by Minnesota Wild left wing Jason Zucker gets behind Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, rear, as Wild centre Charlie Coyle (3) and Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban, right, watch the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
A shot by Minnesota Wild left wing Jason Zucker gets behind Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, rear, as Wild centre Charlie Coyle (3) and Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban, right, watch the goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, right, deflects a shot as Wild defenceman Keith Ballard, centre, is tripped by Montreal Canadiens centre Lars Eller (81), of Denmark, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, right, deflects a shot as Wild defenceman Keith Ballard, centre, is tripped by Montreal Canadiens centre Lars Eller (81), of Denmark, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher wears a number 4 decal on his helmet in honour of hockey legend Jean Béliveau during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. Béliveau died at the age of 83 on Tuesday.]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher wears a number 4 decal on his helmet in honour of hockey legend Jean Béliveau during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. Béliveau died at the age of 83 on Tuesday.
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![Montreal Canadiens centre Alex Galchenyuk (27) is congratulated by teammates Brendan Gallagher, right, and David Desharnais (51) after scoring on Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.]()
Montreal Canadiens centre Alex Galchenyuk (27) is congratulated by teammates Brendan Gallagher, right, and David Desharnais (51) after scoring on Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.
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![Minnesota Wild left wing Jason Zucker, centre, celebrates with teammates Mikko Koivu (9), of Finland, and Christian Folin (5) after Zucker's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Minnesota Wild left wing Jason Zucker, centre, celebrates with teammates Mikko Koivu (9), of Finland, and Christian Folin (5) after Zucker's goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Minnesota Wild defenceman Christian Folin (5) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Minnesota Wild defenceman Christian Folin (5) and Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) falls as he brings the puck around the net in front of Minnesota Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin (25) as Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, covers the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing Dale Weise (22) falls as he brings the puck around the net in front of Minnesota Wild defenceman Jonas Brodin (25) as Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, covers the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) and Minnesota Wild defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) and Minnesota Wild defenceman Jared Spurgeon (46) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens right wing P.A. Parenteau (15), Minnesota Wild defenceman Keith Ballard (2) and Canadiens centre Lars Eller (81), of Denmark, chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Montreal Canadiens right wing P.A. Parenteau (15), Minnesota Wild defenceman Keith Ballard (2) and Canadiens centre Lars Eller (81), of Denmark, chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) and teammates watch as a tribute to hockey legend Jean Béliveau plays before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) and teammates watch as a tribute to hockey legend Jean Béliveau plays before the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Montreal Canadiens centre David Desharnais (51) controls the puck in front of Minnesota Wild centre Mikael Granlund, centre, of Finland, and Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.]()
Montreal Canadiens centre David Desharnais (51) controls the puck in front of Minnesota Wild centre Mikael Granlund, centre, of Finland, and Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
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![Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, dives on the puck under Wild centre Kyle Brodziak (21) and Montreal Canadiens centre Lars Eller, right, of Denmark, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.]()
Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper, left, dives on the puck under Wild centre Kyle Brodziak (21) and Montreal Canadiens centre Lars Eller, right, of Denmark, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.
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![Minnesota Wild defenceman Marco Scandella, left, controls the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens left wing Jiri Sekac, right, of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.]()
Minnesota Wild defenceman Marco Scandella, left, controls the puck in front of Montreal Canadiens left wing Jiri Sekac, right, of the Czech Republic, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.
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![Minnesota Wild defenceman Christian Folin, right, and Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec, left, of the Czech Republic, chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.]()
Minnesota Wild defenceman Christian Folin, right, and Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec, left, of the Czech Republic, chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in St. Paul, Minn., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014. The Wild won 2-1.
Gallery: Canadiens vs. Wild
Action from the Montreal Canadiens vs. Minnesota Wild NHL game at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday Dec. 3, 2014.
Bad and badder: With two of the worst power-play teams in the NHL facing off, it was no surprise that neither team was able to score with the man advantage. The Canadiens had one power play and it lasted only 26 seconds because Jiri Sekac was whistled off for interference. The Wild went 0-for-5 and failed to get a shot when they had a two-man advantage for 58 seconds in the second period.
Moment of silence: There was a video tribute to Canadiens legend Jean Béliveau prior to the game. That was followed by a moment of silence for Béliveau and Murray Oliver. Oliver played five of his 18 NHL seasons with the Minnesota North Stars and was the team’s head coach for 37 games in 1985-86.
Suter quarantined: The official word from the Wild is that defenceman Ryan Suter missed the game with an illness. The fear is that Suter, who hadn’t missed a game since he joined the Wild after the lockout, is the latest NHL player to come down with mumps. Four other Minnesota defencemen have been diagnosed with mumps this season, but none is as valuable as Suter, who averages a league-high 29 minutes a game.
What’s next: The Canadiens’ road caravan moves on to Chicago Friday (8:30 p.m., Sportsnet East, RDS, TSN-690 Radio) and the road trip concludes Saturday in Dallas.
