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Laine scores again, Canadiens beat Red Wings on consecutive nights with 5-1 win

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MONTREAL – Patrik Laine scored on the power play again, and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings on consecutive nights with a 5-1 win Saturday.

Laine found twine for the eighth time — all with the man-advantage — in nine games since returning from a pre-season knee injury. The Finnish winger beat Alex Lyon with an attempted pass from the left circle at 19:21 in the first period.

Juraj Slafkovsky, Jake Evans, Emil Heineman and Brendan Gallagher also scored for Montreal (14-16-3), which extended its win streak to a season-high three games. Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson pitched in with two assists.


Detroit Red Wings' Justin Holl (3) defends against Montreal Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky (20) as he moves in on Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Detroit Red Wings’ Justin Holl (3) defends against Montreal Canadiens’ Juraj Slafkovsky (20) as he moves in on Red Wings goalie Alex Lyon during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Sam Montembeault stopped 20 shots in his ninth consecutive start — and second against Detroit in 24 hours. The Canadiens defeated the Red Wings 4-2 in Detroit on Friday.

Joe Veleno opened the scoring early in the first for Detroit (13-16-4), while Alex Lyon made 19 saves.

TAKEAWAYS

The Canadiens look like a different team with Laine in the lineup. Montreal is 6-3-0 since his debut on Dec. 3.

The Red Wings dropped to seventh in the Atlantic Division behind Montreal. Veleno, a 24-year-old from Montreal, scored in his third straight game after scoring once in his first 26 to start the season. Detroit didn’t have many other bright spots in a difficult game where the power play went 0-for-4.

KEY MOMENT

Laine scored the game-winner on Friday night with a one-timer that broke Moritz Seider’s stick en route to the back of the net. Midway through the first Saturday, Laine snapped Seider’s stick with a blistering shot again — only this time the puck deflected into the netting.

KEY STAT

Laine became the first player on record (since 1933-34) to score eight straight power-play goals for a team. He also became the third forward to score his first eight goals of a season with the man-advantage, joining Yvan Cournoyer (1966-67, 1965-66) and Owen Nolan (1995-96).

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Host the St. Louis Blues on Monday.

Canadiens: Visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2024.