Jacob Fowler has 1st NHL shutout, Canadiens send Penguins to 8th straight loss with 4-0 win

MONTREAL (AP) — Jacob Fowler made 31 saves for his fourth NHL start for his first shutout and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0 on Saturday night to open a home-and-home set.

The teams will meet again Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Josh Anderson scored twice, the second into an empty net, and Owen Beck had his first NHL goal for Montreal. Juraj Slafkovsky also scored to help Montreal improve to 19-12-4 with its second straight victory.

The Penguins dropped their eighth straight to fall to 14-11-9.

Stuart Skinner stopped 17 shots in his second start for Pittsburgh. He allowed five goals in a 6-4 loss to Edmonton in his Pittsburgh debut Tuesday night after being acquired from Edmonton.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby remained at 1,722 career points, one shy of idol and mentor Mario Lemieux for the franchise lead. Pittsburgh was shut out for the second consecutive game, also falling 4-0 to Ottawa on Thursday night.

Slafkovsky, after keeping the play alive with a stick-check, ripped a shot into the top corner off a pass from Cole Caufield on the power play to open the scoring with 3:19 left in the first period.

Beck doubled the lead with 1:11 remaining in the period after blowing by a falling Parker Wotherspoon and firing a shot over Skinner’s left shoulder.

Midway through the second period, Anderson scored on a short-handed goal on a breakaway.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby skates prior to an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner, right, looks on as Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson (48) and Penguins' Erik Karlsson (65) collide in front of his net during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins' Connor Dewar (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler makes a save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected with 10:39 left in the first half of Saturday night's game against Phoenix following consecutive technical fouls.

Green, who has a history of volatile behavior, received his first technical for shoving Collin Gillespie from behind moments after blocking his drive on the other end that started the heated back-and-forth. Green's second technical came after continued arguing, as he carried on despite efforts by teammates, Warriors officials and security to push him away.

Warriors' coach Steve Kerr also received a technical for protesting the ejection.

This game quickly became the second straight testy meeting between the teams after Phoenix escaped with a 99-98 win at home Thursday.

Dillon Brooks was called for a flagrant 1 foul with 38.3 seconds left in that one when he hit Stephen Curry in the stomach after a 3-point attempt.

He was booed at every chance by the fans in Chase Center two nights later, then Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis made a rough offensive foul on Brooks late in the second quarter that sent the Suns star hard to the floor.

Brooks made his initial five field goals and scored 14 points by halftime as Phoenix led 67-64 at the break. He was whistled for his third foul in the final second of the half.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) gestures toward a referee after being ejected as Moses Moody (4) restrains him during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, gets off a pass against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Warriors forward Draymond Green react as time expires during the second half of an NBA basketball game loss to the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, drives past Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)