MTL@PIT: Postgame
Habs unable to overcome Jason Zucker's two-goal night, fall to Pens
by Dan Braverman @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
PITTSBURGH - The Canadiens dropped their third game in a row, losing 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday.
The Penguins held "French Language Night" at PPG Paints Arena, with arena ushers greeting fans in the language of Molière and all goal and penalty announcements being made in both languages. Former Penguin and Lemoyne, QC native Max Talbot served as the club's "French Language Ambassador" and made many of the French announcements throughout the night.
The Canadiens had their first power play opportunity of the night with Marcus Pettersson in the box for hooking, but only recorded one shot on goal with the man advantage and couldn't convert.
Neither team broke the ice in the first, with the Penguins leading 8-6 in shots.
The Penguins opened the scoring as the midway point of the game approached. With Ilya Kovalchuk in the box for slashing, Montreal was unable to clear and Kris Letang pinched and beat Carey Price to make it 1-0 at the 7:25 mark of the second.
With exactly 2:00 remaining in the middle frame, Jason Zucker doubled the Penguins' lead.
The Habs would reply 66 seconds later, however, with Brendan Gallagher redirecting Tomas Tatar's shot for his 20th of the season to cut the Pens' lead in half on the power play.
Zucker added his second of the night just 26 seconds after the Tatar goal to make it a 3-1 game heading into the third period.
Pittsburgh was leading 20-17 in shots after 40.
The Canadiens pulled Price with under three minutes to go, and Zach Aston-Reese took advantage to add an empty-netter with 1:44 remaining.