MTL@CGY: Game Recap

CALGARY - The Canadiens were bested 5-2 by the Flames on Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

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Head coach Dominique Ducharme made several lineup changes ahead of the second matchup against Calgary in less than 24 hours.
Goaltender Cayden Primeau made his first start of the season for the Canadiens. It was his first NHL game since December 11, 2019 against the Ottawa Senators.
It was also Primeau's third career NHL start.

Up front, left-winger Jonathan Drouin missed a second straight contest with a non-COVID related illness. For his part, Paul Byron was replaced by Jake Evans because he's dealing with a lower-body injury.

Montreal struck first at the 11:32 mark of the first period.
Centreman Nick Suzuki jumped on a rebound off a shot from defenseman Erik Gustafsson to put the visitors up 1-0.

That snapped Suzuki's six-game goal drought.
Gustafsson collected his first point in a Canadiens uniform on the play.
Evans also assisted on Suzuki's tally.
The Flames responded with 31 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Left-winger Johnny Gaudreau capped a rush down the wing by beating Primeau with a wrist shot upstairs from the top of the circle.

It was his 16th goal of the season, and he snapped a four-game goal drought.
That's the way things stood after 20 minutes. Montreal led 14-11 in shots.
Calgary took a 2-1 lead just 2:14 into the second period.
Centreman Derek Ryan won an offensive zone draw that allowed Milan Lucic to fire a one-timer that beat Primeau.

It was the ninth goal of the season for Lucic.
Only 3:17 later, Gaudreau scored his second goal of the game to give the Flames a 3-1 advantage.
The Salem, NJ native buried an impressive feed from Andrew Mangiapane past Primeau.

It was Gaudreau's second two-goal game of the year and his first since January 26 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Right-winger Tyler Toffoli cut into the Flames' lead with 1:57 remaining in the frame on the power play.
Veteran Corey Perry deflected the puck in Toffoli's direction, allowing him to score his 24th goal of the season, matching his total from last year.

Toffoli also extended his goal streak to three straight games.
Gustafsson collected his second helper of the night on the play.
The Flames led 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Calgary retook their two-goal advantage at the 4:41 mark of the third period.
Right-winger Brett Ritchie capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone to score his third goal of the season on a 2-on-1.

Ryan collected his second assist of the night on the play.
Defenseman Rasmus Andersson added an empty-netter for Calgary with 2:29 remaining in regulation.
Primeau made 29 saves in the loss.
The Canadiens will close out their five-game Alberta road trip on Monday night with a third consecutive matchup against the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.