Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Harvey-Pinard scores twice, but Canadiens can't break retro jersey curse

Montreal now 0-6-1 when wearing the powder blue sweaters after losing 5-4 to the Senators Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.

Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen keeps his eye on the play as Senators' Derick Brassard parks in front of the net while veteran Claude Giroux looks on. at the Bell Centre Tuesday night.
Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen keeps his eye on the play as Senators' Derick Brassard parks in front of the net while veteran Claude Giroux looks on. at the Bell Centre Tuesday night. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

The curse of the reverse retro jerseys continued Tuesday night as Brady Tkachuk scored with 1:18 remaining to give the Ottawa Senators a 5-4 win over the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens are now winless in seven games (0-6-1) while wearing the powder blue jerseys.

Since the Montreal Canadiens making the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 28 years, this newsletter is the dedicated Montreal Canadiens fan's source for exclusive Habs content, insight and analysis.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who started the new year in Laval, continued his bid for regular employment in the NHL when he twice brought the Canadiens back from a one-goal deficit in the third period. The seventh-round draft choice has scored five goals in seven games since being recalled from the Rocket.

Harvey-Pinard knotted the game at 4-4 two minutes after Tim Stutzle put Ottawa ahead 4-3 when he scored his second goal of the night on a power play at 12:14.

On too many occasions this season, the Canadiens have had to chase the game after falling behind early.

That was the case Tuesday as the Senators grabbed a 2-0 lead before the game was four minutes old.

Claude Giroux, the 34-year-old veteran who has found the Fountain of Youth in Ottawa, opened the scoring when he collected his 20th of the season at 2:57. Less than a minute later, Stützle made it 2-0 when he was sent in alone by Mathieu Joseph for his 21st goal.

It could have been worse.

Shortly after the Stützle goal, Jake Allen made a skate save to thwart Joseph on a breakaway and later in the period, he stopped Ridly Greig on a breakaway.

The Canadiens failed to get a shot on their first power play, but cut the Ottawa lead in half when Kirby Dach’s persistence paid off with a power-play goal at 13:20. Anton Forsberg, who shut out the Canadiens on Saturday, made an initial save on Mike Hoffman’s shot and stopped Nick Suzuki on the rebound. Dach joined the play from the left side of the net and tucked the puck under Forsberg’s blocker.

The teams exchanged power-play goals in the second period.

Alex DeBrincat converted a cross-ice pass from Stützle to score from the right faceoff circle at 16:23, but Mike Hoffman beat the buzzer when he scored on a shot from the right faceoff circle with five seconds remaining.

Fight aficionados were deprived of a main-event battle between Tkachuk and Arber Xhekaj as time ran out in the second period. Xhekaj got in a few shots before the linesmen stepped in, but there were no penalties on the play.

The Canadiens will now get a chance to rest and, in some cases, recuperate, when they begin their bye week Wednesday. They will return to practice on Feb. 9 and will play two afternoon games on Super Bowl weekend. The New York Islanders visit the Bell Centre on Feb. 11 and Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will be in town on Feb. 12.

phickey@postmedia.com

twitter.com/zababes1

  1. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price during a news conference in Brossard on Oct. 24, 2022.

    For sidelined Canadien Carey Price, home is where his heart is

  2. Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki skates through centre ice during third period against the Seattle Kraken in Montreal on Jan. 9, 2023.

    Stu Cowan: A welcome respite for Canadiens workhorse Nick Suzuki

  3. Owen Beck of the Montreal Canadiens flips the puck away against T.J. Brodie of the Toronto Maple Leafs during pre-season game at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 28, 2022 in Toronto.

    Owen Beck 'very comfortable' in NHL debut, Canadiens coach says