Jeff Petry knows exactly when things fell off the rails for the Canadiens Monday night.
The Canadiens pulled into a 1-1 tie with the Washington Capitals on a power-play goal by Tomas Plekanec, but Evgeny Kuznetsov scored 54 seconds later to put the Capitals ahead to stay.
“We got a big goal in the third and it was unacceptable for me to let that happen,” said Petry, who was caught flat-footed as Kuznetsov cut inside on him and made a beeline to the net.
“I know he has the ability to make moves like that, but I put myself in a bad position with no speed and my feet facing in the wrong direction. Guys with that skill can see that and he obviously made that move. I shot our team in the foot tonight.”
Action from the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals NHL game at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Monday Jan. 9, 2017.
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Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec (14) is checked by Washington Capitals centre Liam O'Brien (87) during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Washington Capitals defenceman Matt Niskanen (2) clears the puck from behind the net while Washington Capitals left wing Marcus Johansson (90) impedes Montreal Canadiens right wing Alexander Radulov (47) during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Washington Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) battle for the puck along the boards during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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The Montreal Canadiens played host to the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens right wing Bobby Farnham (44) collides awkwardly against Washington Capitals defenceman Nate Schmidt (88) during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens right wing Sven Andrighetto (42) is caught between the boards by Washington Capitals defenceman Karl Alzner (27) during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens right wing Bobby Farnham (44) and Washington Capitals defenceman Karl Alzner (27) collide along the boards during 1st period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber (6) and goalie Carey Price (31) watch the loose puck roll to the corner during 2nd period NHL action against the Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) has his eye on the loose puck during 2nd period NHL action against Washington Capitals at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens right wing Alexander Radulov (47) checks Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov (9) against the boards as Montreal Canadiens left wing Phillip Danault (24) takes the loose puck during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) tries to get the loose puck against Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber (6) and teammate goalie Carey Price (31) eye the puck during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) can't locate the loose puck in the feet of Washington Capitals right wing Justin Williams (14) with teammate Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber (6) looking on during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens left wing Paul Byron (41) battles for the loose puck in front of Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during 3rd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jeff Petry (26) congratulates teammate Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec (14) on Plekanec's goal against the Washington Capitals during 3rd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec (14) can't get the puck from Washington Capitals centre Jay Beagle (83) during 3rd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) can't score against Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during 3rd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) scored his 544th goal (career point 999) against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during 3rd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017 to tie Rocket Richard for 29th on the all-time goal scoring list.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) congratulates goalie Braden Holtby (70) after defeating the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Ovechkin (8) scored his 544th goal (career point 999) to tie Rocket Richard for 29th on the all-time goal scoring list. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin (74) heads up ice against the Washington Capitals during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017.Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) gets to the loose puck before Washington Capitals centre Jay Beagle (83) during 2nd period NHL action at the Bell Centre in Montreal, on Monday, January 9, 2017. Dave Sidaway / Montreal Gazette
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The Plekanec goal should have given the Canadiens a lift on a night when they weren’t playing their best hockey, but that wasn’t the case.
Brett Connolly and Alex Ovechkin scored goals and the Capitals went home easy 4-1 winners and that score reflected the play of the night. The Capitals outshot the Canadiens 39-23.
For Ovechkin it was goal No. 544 and that’s significant because that’s how many goals Maurice (Rocket) Richard scored to set an NHL record more than 60 years ago. The record has long since disappeared but it remains a magical number for a sniper who has won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer a record six times. Ovechkin also added two assists to boost his NHL career points total to 999.
The Canadiens beat the Capitals 2-1 in Washington on Dec. 17 and, on that occasion, the Capitals appeared disinterested. On Monday night, it was the Canadiens’ turn to disappoint the home crowd.
“We wish we could put on a better show at home but we definitely didn’t have it tonight,” said captain Max Pacioretty. “We have to get back to practice tomorrow and be ready for the Winnipeg game (Wednesday night).
“We didn’t execute,” added Pacioretty. “We didn’t play anywhere near our best. We tied it up and they got a goal right away. It was a bit deflating. It was a one-goal game, we tied it up and we have to find a way to be better at the end.”
The Canadiens were coming off a successful road trip — they went 4-1-2 — and players were asked whether this was another example of the letdown players feel after coming home.
The opinions were split. Coach Michel Therrien offered that this game was demanding and Paul Byron said: “Any time you get home after a long trip, you see your family and you just want to relax and settle in at home. Then, you have a game right away and you’re just not ready to play. We had a day off yesterday and it took a little bit of time to get back into it.”
But Petry wouldn’t use the layoff as an excuse.
“It wasn’t a letdown,” said the defenceman. “It took us a little bit to get into the game. We knew we needed to start well and we didn’t. We fed their forecheck and turned the puck over.”
On the plus side, Plekanec scored for the first time since Dec. 22 and Therrien said the line of Plekanec, Byron and Artturi Lehkonen “was our best line.”
Lars Eller returned to the Bell Centre and played a solid game for the Caps.
“Weird? … I don’t know how to describe the feeling. But it was fun and it was special,” Eller said when asked about playing against his former teammates. “There were a couple of one-liners going back and forth.”
