MTL@MIN: Game recap

ST PAUL - The Canadiens wrapped up their seven-game road trip on Monday, falling 8-2 to the Wild in Minnesota.

The Habs got off to a good start, as Mike Hoffman opened the scoring just 1:23 into the contest, pouncing on a loose puck in the slot for his seventh of the season.

Laurent Dauphin and Jeff Petry earned assists on the play, the latter registering the 300th point of his NHL career.
But the lead was short lived as Jared Spurgeon ripped a shot through traffic less than two minutes later to make it 1-1.
Then it was Marcus Foligno who put the Wild ahead at 9:22 in a period which saw Cayden Primeau tested 21 times.

Christian Dvorak for his part did not return to the game after leaving the ice following a hit from Spurgeon.
Back for the middle frame, and Minnesota picked up where they left off; Connor Dewar and Nico Sturm potted a pair of goals 22 seconds apart to make it 4-1 before the 30-minute mark. Mats Zuccarello added another with 30 seconds left in the period.
After 40 minutes, shots were 32-15 in favor of the Wild.
Michael McNiven started the final frame for the Habs, making his NHL debut in Minnesota.
Former Wild forward Rem Pitlick meanwhile got one back for Montreal at 4:24 to make it 5-2, but that's as close Montreal as would come.

Matt Boldy tallied with the man advantage at 6:04 before Jordie Benn made it 7-2 at 9:58 for his first of the season.
Kevin Fiala rounded out the scoring at 15:12 to end it 8-2.
The Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday when they host the Ducks to open a string of eight games in a row at home.