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 Center Torrey Mitchell's late second-period short-handed goal was
the Canadiens' eighth of its kind this season, moving them into a
tie with the Ottawa Senators for most in the NHL.
"When you win the special teams battle, you definitely give yourself
a much greater opportunity of winning the game," said left winger
Max Pacioretty, who scored Montreal's other goal. "It's important.
This game is so tightly checked that five-on-five goals are very,
very tough to score, especially against a team like that, that shuts
it down very well.
"You've got to rely on special teams sometimes and just thankful
both penalty kill and power play stepped up."
Center Adam Henrique replied for the Devils (20-16-5), who have now
scored one goal in their last two games, both losses.
Goaltender Mike Condon stopped 19 shots for the Canadiens (23-16-3).
A late first-period power play set the table for the Canadiens to
open the scoring at 19:00. After passing the puck around for a
stretch, looking for an opening, defenseman P.K. Subban fed Tomas
Plekanec along the right side. The center skated just inside the
circle before dishing off to Pacioretty at the other side of the
circle for the tip-in, with right winger Brendan Gallagher screening
Schneider.
The Devils challenged for goaltender interference on the play but
the call on the ice stood.
"Once Plekanec moved the puck, I never really found it again and it
just found a way in," said Schneider, who stopped 23 shots. "I think
that just goes to show the value of having someone parked in front
of the net like that."
Center David Desharnais had a chance to double the Canadiens' lead
at 16:31 when he was awarded a penalty shot after New Jersey's
Jordin Tootoo used a broken stick on the ice to get the puck away
from the Habs' forward, but his shot went high.
Schneider is now 4-for-4 on penalty shots he's faced this season.
Nearly two minutes later, Montreal's penalty kill made it 2-0. An
attempted pass by the Devils at the Montreal blue line went into the
neutral zone, where left winger Paul Byron picked it up before
skating in on a 2-on-1 with Mitchell. Byron waited and Devils
defenseman Damon Severson dropped and slid out of position, opening
Mitchell up for an easy tip-in on Schneider's left.
Byron's helper was his league-leading fifth point on the penalty
kill.
"Darcy Regier once told me in Buffalo that you need a niche to make
a spot in the NHL, and I think the PK is definitely my niche and
something I excel at," he said.
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"I don't know what it is -- anticipation, being in lanes, more room
out there," he added. "I just try to do a job to outwork the power
play and try to give up as little chances as possible. With my speed
and quickness, I can kill plays. I've got a good stick and most of
the time we're doing more good than giving up chances."
The Devils got on the board 50 seconds into the third period. Right
winger Lee Stempniak sent the puck along the boards to defenseman
Andy Greene at the point. The Devils captain fired and Henrique,
inside the top of the left circle, deflected it five-hole on a
screened Condon.
"We came out good," Henrique said. "We get that one early and then
go from there but you've still got to find that way to get that
second one. I thought we were pretty good 5-on-5 majority of the
game but we've still got to find a way to tie it up."
Shortly thereafter, Montreal thought it had restored its two-goal
lead on a Plekanec tally, but it was quickly waved off for being
batted in by a high stick.
New Jersey defenseman John Moore played one shift in the first
period before leaving the game with an injury. He did not return.
NOTES: Montreal made one change to its lineup from Tuesday's loss,
inserting RW Sven Andrighetto in place of LW Tomas Fleischmann, a
healthy scratch alongside D Jarred Tinordi and D Greg Pateryn. ...
Injuries sidelined Devils D David Schlemko, LW Mike Cammalleri
(upper body), C/W Patrik Elias and C Jacob Josefson while C Tyler
Kennedy was a healthy scratch. ... New Jersey D Andy Greene suited
up for his 600th career NHL game -- all with the Devils -- becoming
the sixth defenseman and 16th player in franchise history to reach
the mark. ... The game was Montreal's first since Dec. 17, coming
after a season-high eight straight on the road. ... Canadiens D P.K.
Subban was selected to the 2016 All-Star team on Wednesday. ... G
Cory Schneider is the Devils' representative on the All-Star team.
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