Talbot, Wild shut out Canadiens, move into tie for second in Central

MONTREAL -- Cam Talbot made 26 saves to help the Minnesota Wild defeat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 at Bell Centre on Tuesday.

Talbot is 11-0-3 with a 2.34 goals-against average, .918 save percentage and two shutouts in his past 14 starts. His shutout was his third of the season and 27th in the NHL.
"It's always good to go out there and just help the team win, that's all I'm looking to do," Talbot said. "I mean, shutouts are always an added bonus, but the win is what really matters, especially this time of year with the standings the way they are and playing for home ice."

Kevin Fiala extended his point streak to seven games with a goal and an assist, and Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota (48-21-7), which extended its point streak to seven games (5-0-2) and moved into a tie with the St. Louis Blues for second in the Central Division. The Blues lost 3-2 in overtime to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.
"I don't know if I got the better of [Carey Price], I'd say our team got the better of their team tonight," Talbot said. "But any time you get to go up against one of the best goalies in the world, I don't care if it's his second start, he looked pretty darned good over there. So we threw everything we could at him to bury a couple, but he definitely gave them a chance."
Price made 28 saves for Montreal (20-46-11), which has failed to score in each of his two starts since returning. He made 17 saves in a 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Friday in his season debut.
"I thought the last two games I was in we played very well," Price said. "We were pressuring pucks up ice and when we're using our speed, that's when we're at our best. I thought sorting out our back checks and being able to kill plays within our zone was better tonight than it was last game."

Fiala made it 1-0 at 6:57 of the first period with his 30th goal of the season. He scored with a one-timer from the slot on the power play to give the Wild three 30-goal scorers for the first time in their history (Kirill Kaprizov, 43; Ryan Hartman, 31).
"It's always fun to produce, but honestly, I take it game by game," said Fiala, who has scored six goals in the past five games and 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) during his streak.
"I don't really think about those points, goals, whatsoever. The most important thing is to feel good, to win games with the team before the playoffs. Now is the time to really play at your best."
Boldy made it 2-0 at 2:29 of the third when he scored on a between-the-legs shot from a tight angle.
"Honestly, it was just something that kind of happened quick," Boldy said. "It wasn't my first thought to go between the legs or anything like that. I think it ended up hitting one of their guys in front and finding the back of the net. So, you get a little lucky, but kind of go with the flow, I guess."

Canadiens forward Paul Byron left in the first period after sustaining a lower-body injury.
"It's hard, and I think he fights every day to keep playing this year because he wants to be with the team," Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. "He just has an injury that's been bugging him for a while and he's trying to fight through it. He's a tough player, he's a great player, and it's tough not having him at 100 percent."
NOTES: Boldy has eight points (three goals, five assists) during a six-game point streak and 11 points (three goals, eight assists in his past eight games. … Minnesota forward Mitchell Chaffee had one shot on goal and three hits in 7:33 of ice time in his NHL debut. He was recalled from Iowa of the American Hockey League on Monday after forward Marcus Foligno entered NHL COVID-19 protocol. … Wild forward Nicolas Deslauriers played his 500th NHL game. … Montreal forward Mathieu Perreault had three hits in 9:42 after not playing the previous nine games. … Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta served the first game of his two-game suspension for a cross-check to the head of T.J. Oshie of the Washington Capitals on Saturday.