Montreal has been held to 29 goals in its last 15 games and its home record dropped to 10-11-2 after a 4-1 loss to Toronto Wednesday night.
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Limited offence and little success at home continue to plague the Canadiens.
Montreal returned from a five-game swing through Alberta, but failed to produce a consistent effort in its 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Wednesday night. It was the start of a four-game homestand for the Canadiens, who will meet the Leafs four times in 11 days — and potentially more if they meet in the first-round of the North Division playoffs.
William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Jake Muzzin and Adam Brooks paced the first-place Leafs (31-13-5), who won their third consecutive match, clinching a playoff berth in the process. Nick Suzuki scored the only goal for the Canadiens (21-18-9), who lost for the ninth time in 13 games.
While the Canadiens remain six points ahead of Calgary in the battle for the fourth and final playoff spot, both teams have now played 48 games.
Montreal has been held to only 29 goals in its last 15 contests and continues to struggle at home, its record now a poor 10-11-2.
It was an eventful day for the Canadiens, beginning in the morning when the organization announced winger Jonathan Drouin was taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons.
Drouin missed the three-game series at Calgary with what interim head coach Dominique Ducharme said at the time was a non COVID-related illness. Drouin’s mired in a horrific slump, with only two goals in 44 games — although he has 21 assists — last scoring Feb. 23, at Ottawa.
With Drouin being placed on the long-term injured reserve list, he’ll be compelled to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre William Nylander scores a power-play goal on Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Jake Allen during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs right wing Cole Caufield collides with referee Marc Joannette during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs left wing Artturi Lehkonen plays the puck up the ice after taking a hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin and left wing Nick Foligno during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs centre Nick Suzuki holds off Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Muzzin tries to hold off Habs left wing Phillip Danault during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs right wing Cole Caufield plays the puck as defenseman Jon Merrill (holds back Toronto Maple Leafs centre Jason Spezza during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Both on their knees, Habs right wing Tyler Toffoli and Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk battle for the puck during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre Alex Galchenyuk, left, and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie take out Habs right wing Cole Caufield as he drives for the net during first-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Toronto Maple Leafs centre Joe Thornton celebrates as the Leafs score on Habs goaltender Jake Allen during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander beats Canadiens goalie Jake Allen during a first-period power play Wednesday night at the Bell Centre. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell traps the puck between his glove and pads as he shuts down Habs right wing Joel Armia's breakaway during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Despite pressure from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl, Habs centre Nick Suzuki scores on goaltender Jack Campbell during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs right wing Josh Anderson drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly to the ice during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Wayne Simmonds pressures Habs defenseman Jeff Petry as he rounds goaltender Jake Allen's net during second-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs centre Eric Staal is in the thick of it with Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie as Habs centre Jake Evans looks on during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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It gets crowded behind Habs goaltender Jake Allen's net as Habs right wing Cole Caufield, left to right, left wing Phillip Danault and defenseman Jeff Petry all get tied up by Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
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Habs centre Jake Evans drives Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott to the ice after taking a big check from Dermott during third-period action in Montreal on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette
All 17 Photos for Gallery
The Canadiens, already missing winger Paul Byron, also had to face the Leafs without winger Tomas Tatar. That meant Michael Frolik returned to the starting lineup for the first time since April 1 on an emergency recall. Frolik was playing only his third game this season.
Rookie winger Cole Caufield made his Montreal debut and, in his second NHL game, was teamed with Tyler Toffoli and Suzuki.
The visitors required only 98 seconds before opening the scoring with a power-play goal on their first shot. Toronto displayed good puck movement, ending in Nylander’s 15th goal this season.
The Leafs beat Jake Allen again on their fourth shot, at 8:44, on Matthews’s magnificent solo effort. He stole the puck from Suzuki, and then displayed excellent hand-eye co-ordination, knocking the puck from midair, then scoring on a shot that deflected off the post.
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Matthews leads the NHL in goals, with 35.
Allen had to be sharp to keep his team in the game the remainder of the period, making stops on Matthews, who was in alone, and Rasmus Sandin.
Muzzin made it 3-0 at 6:27 of the second period — his shot from the point deflecting off the stick of defenceman Jon Merrill. Veteran Joe Thornton drew an assist on the play, the 1,100th of his career.
But the Canadiens finally ended Jack Campbell’s shutout bid at 15:15. Suzuki came down the left side, his quick release through a screen beating Campbell high to the stick side. It was the centre’s second goal in three games and 10th this season, and might have provided Montreal with some momentum entering the third period.
But instead it was Brooks, playing only his sixth game this season, who scored at 8:15 of the period after Allen turned the puck over behind his net to Jason Spezza, who fed Brooks in front.
The Canadiens entertain Winnipeg Friday night.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1
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