Carey Price made 26 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Tuesday night to give rookie coach Dominique Ducharme his first NHL victory.
Jeff Petry and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and an assist. Tyler Toffoli scored into an empty net for Montreal (10-6-5), which snapped a five-game losing streak.
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Carey Price made 26 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1 on Tuesday night to give rookie coach Dominique Ducharme his first NHL victory.
Ottawa winger Drake Batherson's six-game goal streak, which matched a franchise record, came to an end.
Montreal blew a 3-1 lead before dropping a 6-3 decision to the Winnipeg Jets in Ducharme’s NHL head coaching debut Thursday, then lost 2-1 in overtime on the road in Saturday’s rematch.
After the game, the Canadiens made another change to their coaching staff, appointing Sean Burke to take over as the director of goaltending. He replaces Stephane Waite, who was let go after holding the position since 2013. General manager Marc Bergevin made the announcement.
He had an 18-year NHL career, suiting up for eight organizations before moving into management post-retirement.
Petry’s seven goals lead NHL defensemen. ... The Canadiens were minus top-six winger Josh Anderson (lower-body injury) for the second straight game. ... The Senators gave starting goalie Matt Murray the night off. Filip Gustavsson dressed as Daccord’s backup. ... Ottawa center Derek Stepan, hurt in last Tuesday’s victory over Montreal, has a shoulder injury that requires season-ending surgery.
Canadiens: Host the Winnipeg Jets for two games on Thursday and Saturday.
Artem Zub scored for last-place Ottawa (8-16-1), which had won four of five. Joey Daccord stopped 30 shots in his second NHL start for the Senators, who fell to 3-2-0 against the Canadiens this season following Monday’s 5-1 victory over Calgary.
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) reacts to his goal, and a high stick from Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44), after scoring on Senators goaltender Joey Daccord (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa winger Drake Batherson's six-game goal streak, which matched a franchise record, came to an end.
Austin Watson hit the post seven minutes into the third on Ottawa's best chance to tie it.
The Canadiens entered on an 0-2-3 skid and had just one victory over their last eight games (1-4-3). Ducharme replaced the fired Claude Julien last week in the wake of consecutive shootout and overtime losses to the Senators in Ottawa.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) grabs the puck as defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) and Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) look for the rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal blew a 3-1 lead before dropping a 6-3 decision to the Winnipeg Jets in Ducharme’s NHL head coaching debut Thursday, then lost 2-1 in overtime on the road in Saturday’s rematch.
Price entered 5-4-3 with an .888 save percentage and 3.13 goals-against average this season. Over his previous six starts, the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner was 1-4-1 with an .870 save percentage.
ANOTHER COACHING CHANGE
Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (15) crashes against Ottawa Senators goaltender Joey Daccord (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
After the game, the Canadiens made another change to their coaching staff, appointing Sean Burke to take over as the director of goaltending. He replaces Stephane Waite, who was let go after holding the position since 2013. General manager Marc Bergevin made the announcement.
Burke will be required to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine before joining the team. Laval Rocket goaltending coach Marco Marciano will work with Montreal’s goaltenders until Burke is cleared to join the squad.
The 54-year-old Burke was originally hired by the Canadiens in 2016 as a professional scout for the Western region. He has also worked as a goaltending consultant for Montreal.
Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) is checked by Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
He had an 18-year NHL career, suiting up for eight organizations before moving into management post-retirement.
The three-time NHL All-Star represented Canada at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, and served as Canada’s general manager at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where the team won bronze without NHL players.
AROUND THE RINK
Montreal Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme keeps an eye on the action, as do Paul Byron (41) and Phillip Danault (24) during the the team's NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
Petry’s seven goals lead NHL defensemen. ... The Canadiens were minus top-six winger Josh Anderson (lower-body injury) for the second straight game. ... The Senators gave starting goalie Matt Murray the night off. Filip Gustavsson dressed as Daccord’s backup. ... Ottawa center Derek Stepan, hurt in last Tuesday’s victory over Montreal, has a shoulder injury that requires season-ending surgery.
UP NEXT
Senators: Travel to Calgary for a two-game set on Thursday and Sunday.
Ottawa Senators goaltender Joey Daccord (34) makes a save on Montreal Canadiens right wing Tyler Toffoli (73) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)
Canadiens: Host the Winnipeg Jets for two games on Thursday and Saturday.
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Ottawa Senators goaltender Joey Daccord (34) makes a save as Montreal Canadiens left wing Tomas Tatar (90) works against Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Montreal. (Ryan RemiorzThe Canadian Press via AP)