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Brendan Gallagher and Jake Evans also scored
for the Canadiens, while goaltender Carey Price made 27 saves.
Adam Lowry, Derek Forbort and Kyle Connor replied for the Jets,
who received a 28-save outing from goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series will be
Friday in Winnipeg.
Having a quick turnaround after their seven-game series victory
over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canadiens received a
much-desired quick start when Kotkaniemi opened the scoring at
the 3:30 mark by redirecting Jeff Petry's point shot for his
fourth goal of the playoffs.
Staal's first goal of the playoffs doubled the lead 100 seconds
later. The veteran created separation while at the doorstep and
redirected Corey Perry's pass.
Lowry put the Jets on the board when he slipped a backhand shot
into the net while on a short-handed breakaway past the midway
point of the opening frame, but Suzuki's goal with 2:46
remaining in the frame restored Montreal's two-goal edge. While
on a two-on-one rush, Suzuki faked the pass before eluding a
diving defender and then deked Hellebuyck for the highlight-reel
tally.
Forbort made it a one-goal game with 10:38 remaining in
regulation, but Gallagher made it a 4-2 count 102 seconds later
when he tucked home a loose puck after Shea Weber was denied on
a breakaway during a power play.
Connor's one-timer from the bottom of the right circle again
brought the Jets within one with 1:42 remaining in regulation,
but Evans notched an empty-net goal with 56.9 seconds left.
As he scored, Evans -- who celebrated his 25th birthday on
Wednesday -- took a high hit from Mark Scheifele and was taken
off the ice via stretcher after appearing to be knocked
unconscious. Scheifele was assessed a five-minute major penalty
for charging and a game misconduct.
The Jets also suffered an injury. Not only did veteran center
Paul Stastny not play due to injury, but defenseman Dylan DeMelo
left the game early in the first period.
--Field Level Media
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