Zack Smith scored twice to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Alex DeBrincat and Drake Caggiula also scored for the Blackhawks, who were coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Senators on Tuesday. Corey Crawford stopped 32 shots to improve to 11-2-2 against his hometown team. Chicago won for the seventh time in 10 games.
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Zack Smith scored twice to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 4-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Lindgren started the first game of a back-to-back for Montreal. Carey Price gets the nod Thursday at Philadelphia.
Chicago’s fourth line struck again less than three minutes later. Defenseman Slater Koekkoek threw the puck into traffic and Smith, unmarked to Lindgren’s right, deflected it into the top corner at 8:32.
Goals have been tough to come by for the Canadiens lately but they got one 54 seconds after the restart. A no-look pass from Ilya Kovalchuk into the slot fooled Jonathan Toews and Danault scored beneath Crawford’s glove to make it 2-1.
Domi was benched for the remainder of the second as punishment for the penalty.
Phillip Danault scored for the Canadiens, who have lost 10 of their last 11. Still looking for his first victory of the season, Charlie Lindgren finished with 24 saves.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford makes a save against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Montreal. (Graham HughesThe Canadian Press via AP)
Lindgren started the first game of a back-to-back for Montreal. Carey Price gets the nod Thursday at Philadelphia.
The Blackhawks scored twice in a fast-paced first period before Montreal even managed its second shot on net.
Miscommunication between Lindgren and Tomas Tatar behind the net led to Smith’s short-handed goal at 5:42. Lindgren hesitated with the puck and Tatar knocked into him, giving Caggiula the chance to feed Smith in front.
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford gives up a goal to Montreal Canadiens' Phillip Danault during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Montreal. (Graham HughesThe Canadian Press via AP)
Chicago’s fourth line struck again less than three minutes later. Defenseman Slater Koekkoek threw the puck into traffic and Smith, unmarked to Lindgren’s right, deflected it into the top corner at 8:32.
Smith came in with two goals in 40 games all season. The former Senators forward doubled his tally after four shifts.
Lindgren kept Montreal in the game with a desperation save on rookie Dominik Kubalik late in the first to keep it 2-0.
Montreal Canadiens' Artturi Lehkonen moves in on Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Montreal. (Graham HughesThe Canadian Press via AP)
Goals have been tough to come by for the Canadiens lately but they got one 54 seconds after the restart. A no-look pass from Ilya Kovalchuk into the slot fooled Jonathan Toews and Danault scored beneath Crawford’s glove to make it 2-1.
The Canadiens have scored 16 goals in their last nine games.
Max Domi’s roughing penalty on Matthew Highmore midway through the second proved costly for Montreal when DeBrincat’s power-play goal at 11:27 restored Chicago’s two-goal lead. After Lindgren lost his blocker in a goal-mouth scramble, DeBrincat scored on a one-timer from Patrick Kane.
Montreal Canadiens' Nick Cousins moves in on Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Montreal. (Graham HughesThe Canadian Press via AP)
Domi was benched for the remainder of the second as punishment for the penalty.
Caggiula sealed the win with 8:20 remaining in the third after stripping Jordal Weal of the puck in the neutral zone and beating Lindgren glove side on the breakaway.
NOTES: Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher (concussion) missed his third consecutive game. ... Toews extended his point streak to four games. ... Crawford has won his last six games at Bell Centre.
Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien and players Nick Suzuki (14), Ryan Poehling (25), Nick Cousins (21) and Max Domi watch from the bench during the third period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, in Montreal. (Graham HughesThe Canadian Press via AP)
UP NEXT
Blackhawks: At Toronto on Saturday night.
Canadiens: At Philadelphia on Thursday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2020.