Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP

The Detroit Red Wings faced the Montreal Canadiens tonight in a battle for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Red Wings entered tonight’s game on a two-game winning streak after beating the Canucks 5-1 on Thursday. The Canadiens came in on a three-game winning streak after a 6-2 win over the Panthers. John Gibson got the start in net making his fourth straight start bringing in a 15-9-1 record with a 2.86 goals-against average, a .898 save percentage, and two shutouts. Jacob Fowler got the start for Montreal. He brings in a 4-2-2 record with a 2.37 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and a shutout. 

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Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Canadiens

First Period 

The game started with high intensity like a playoff game and Montreal’s first shot almost had the roof explode at the Bell Centre but John Gibson robbed him. The Red Wings got the first power-play when Alexandre Carrier went off for holding the stick. Detroit had a chance but Lucas Raymond hit the post. The Red Wings got another power-play as Brendan Gallagher went off for high-sticking on Mason Appleton. The Red Wings once again couldn’t convert. The period would end with neither team scoring and the Red Wings outshooting Montreal 6-4. 

Second Period 

The middle period saw the Red Wings jump out to a 1-0 lead as Lucas Raymond scored his 14th of the season. Later in the second period, the Canadiens took a too-many-men penalty. Six seconds into the man advantage who else but Dylan Larkin scored to make it 2-0 Red Wings. It was his 23rd goal of the season and his eighth power-play goal. Montreal outshot Detroit 9-8 in the second. 

Third Period 

In the final period, the Red Wings added to their lead as Alex DeBrincat scored just 34 seconds into the period to make it 3-0. Detroit had another chance on the power play but failed to convert. The Canadiens would pull the goalie with under five minutes left. It was just as one minute in the game hit that Andrew Copp added an empty net goal his seventh of the year. 4-0 would be the final as Montreal outshot Detroit 15-10. 

Wrap Up 

Gibson stopped all 27 shots he faced. Fowler finished with 20 saves on 23 shots. Gibson was the first star of the game with DeBrincat finishing as the second star. Arber Xhekaj finished as the third star for Reading.

Next Up

The Red Wings return Monday against the Carolina Hurricanes on a night in which they’ll retire Sergei Federov’s number 91 and have a chance at the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The game will be at 7:00 PM EST. Montreal also returns Monday night at 7:30 against the Vancouver Canucks as they’ll be at home.

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