The Canadian Press
Lisa Wallace
OTTAWA–The Montreal Canadiens are starting to believe in themselves after a rough start to the season.
Charles Hudon scored his first two NHL goals and added an assist as the Canadiens routed the Ottawa Senators 8-3 last night for their first back-to-back wins of the season.
“Offensively we’ve been a team that hasn’t scored much, but five the last game and eight tonight so I can see the confidence coming back with the players,” said head coach Claude Julien.
“You can’t keep losing hockey games and feel good about yourself, but you start winning and confidence comes back,” he noted.
Artturi Lehkonen also struck twice for the Canadiens (4-7-1) while Max Pacioretty, Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, and Tomas Plekanec rounded out the attack.
Shea Weber tacked on three helpers while Al Montoya picked up his first win of the season by stopping 25 shots and adding an assist.
Montoya called it a wild night and was just happy to see the Canadiens come out on the winning side of things.
“We’re making bounces happen, we’re making plays happen, and guys aren’t holding their sticks too tight so we’re making plays happen,” noted Montoya.
“It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of.”
The Senators would call it anything but fun.
Ottawa is 2-2-5 at home this season, leaving head coach Guy Boucher with few answers as to why his team struggles at Canadian Tire Centre.
“I don’t know what it is to be honest with you,” said Boucher.
“Whether it’s over-confidence or unconsciously feeling comfortable at home or whatever, I don’t know what it is, but it’s certainly something we have to change and address,” he stressed.
Tom Pyatt, Ryan Dzingel, and Chris DiDomenico scored for Ottawa (5-2-5).
Craig Anderson made just nine saves on 15 shots through two periods before being replaced by Mike Condon, who allowed two goals on 14 shots.
Perhaps most notable for the Senators was the fact that captain Erik Karlsson was on the ice for seven Montreal goals.
“I think I’ve had way worst games and got away with it,” said Karlsson. “[Monday] was not one of those nights.
“It’s something you’re going to have to deal with throughout the season, throughout your career,” he noted.
“I’ve done it before, I’m going to do it again, and it’s not something that’s going to affect me moving forward,” Karlsson added.
“I know what I have to do to be successful and [Monday] was not one of those nights.”
Hudon scored both his goals in the first as both teams combined for six goals in the period.
The Habs entered the game as the lowest-scoring team in the Eastern Conference.
“Our compete level wasn’t high enough to win the game against anybody,” conceded Boucher.
“When that happens, you’re basically opening the door for the opponent to take over and that’s what they did, so they totally deserve the game and we totally don’t.”
Elsewhere, San Jose edged Toronto 3-2, Dallas nipped Vancouver 2-1 (OT), Arizona shaded Philadelphia 4-3 (OT), the N.Y. Islanders beat Vegas 6-3, Columbus downed Boston 4-3 (SO), Tampa Bay topped Florida 8-5, and St. Louis doubled L.A. 4-2.
