Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson each had a goal and two assists as the visiting Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-1 on Wednesday during the final game for both teams ahead of the Olympic break.
Oliver Kapanen, Lane Hutson and Phillip Danault also scored for the Canadiens, while Noah Dobson picked up two assists. Goalie Samuel Montembeault made 36 saves as Montreal improved to 4-0-1 in the past five games.
Kyle Connor scored the lone goal for Winnipeg, which has just one win in four games (1-2-1). Netminder Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots.
The Jets opened the scoring on a power play 6:07 into the game. Quick puck movement between Mark Scheifele and Vilardi set up Connor for a snap shot from just beyond the crease.
That tally gave Connor his ninth straight season with 25 or more goals.
Montreal tied the game 1-1 with 3:34 remaining in the first period. Hellebuyck stopped Dobson’s initial shot, but the rebound sat loose in the crease and was swept home by Kapanen.
The Canadiens took a 2-1 lead when Anderson went to the front of the net and was left all alone to tip in a long shot from Jayden Struble at 5:28 of the second period.
The Canadiens extended the advantage to 3-1 only 1:16 later, striking off the rush. Anderson sent a long backhand pass to Hutson, who weaved back and forth with the puck and beat Hellebuyck with a quick shot from a tight angle.
Montreal added to its cushion in the third period, as Gallagher converted a neat feed from Kirby Dach with a wrist shot from the side of the net on the power play at 10:57.
With 14 seconds left, Danault scored short-handed into an empty net.
The Jets are off until a Feb. 25 game at Vancouver. The Canadiens resume action the next night, at home against the New York Islanders.
–Field Level Media
