Within the Habs’ Room: Pens peppered Allen, however netminder was counting the win, not saves

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PITTSBURGH — Jake Allen says he doesn’t take note of the variety of photographs he faces in a recreation and it wasn’t till the Canadiens wrapped up their 6-3 win over the Penguins on Saturday that he realized he had made 47 saves.

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“I simply heard within the dressing room,” Allen stated. “I’ve by no means watched the photographs ever since I turned professional. I believe it’s a factor the place goalies lookup and see they gave up three targets on seven photographs they usually’re screwed the remainder of the sport.”

Allen gave up three targets on 50 photographs, however two of them got here within the remaining 2:37 because the Penguins desperately tried to get again into the sport. Pittsburgh received targets from Jeff Carter and Sidney Crosby, however the Canadiens countered with three empty-net targets — two by Josh  Anderson and one by Tyler Toffoli.

Allen stated he hoped the win serves as a turning level for the Canadiens, who improved to 6-15-2 on the season.

“We’ve been down within the dumps a bit,” Allen stated. “We haven’t been enjoying our greatest hockey and I believed it was an essential recreation for us, to play with a whole lot of effort and, clearly, it was most essential to get the win, have a break day tomorrow after which come again house for a few video games and string collectively some good hockey.

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“I believed there was much more dedication to element, blocking photographs, altering on the proper time, enjoying collectively as a bunch,” Allen stated. “It was rather a lot higher tonight than it was in Buffalo. We nonetheless have a strategy to go, but it surely’s essential in these weeks earlier than Christmas to string collectively some good hockey. It’s not  going to occur in a single day. We’re not going each evening, however we have to are available and anticipate to play our greatest.”

The Canadiens managed to restrict their errors and Jonathan Drouin took benefit of a Pittsburgh turnover to attain on a breakaway for the one purpose within the first two intervals.

“Crosby made made a play and (Kris) Letang mishandled it and I received a superb bounce off the turnover,” Drouin stated.

Pittsburgh tied it up early within the third, however Christian Dvorak scored 33 seconds later to revive the Montreal lead.

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“You cannot all the time reply with a purpose, however you may have a superb shift and are available again immediately,” stated coach Dominique Ducharme. “Getting rewarded with a purpose is large.”

In off-ice information, Scott Melllanby, the Canadiens assistant normal supervisor, has resigned. Mellanby was reportedly in talks with crew proprietor  Geoff Molson about changing Marc Bergevin as normal supervisor or taking one other senior function, however Molson ended the dialogue on Friday and Mellanby resigned Saturday. Whereas dropping Mellanby is one other instance of how dysfunctional this group has turn into, it’s an encouraging  signal if Molslon was, certainly, considering a non-francophone for the GM function.

Allen, who had dealings with Mellanby once they had been each with the St. Louis Blues group, stated he had a whole lot of respect for Mellanby and he’s positive Mellanby will discover employment elsewhere. He stated the gamers attempt to block out the comings and goings in within the entrance workplace and focus on hockey.

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The Canadiens return to the Bell Centre on Monday to play the Vancouver Canucks, a crew whose document is just barely higher than the Canadiens. The Colorado Avalanche are in Montreal on Thursday and the Canadiens end the week in Nashville, which isn’t practically as  a lot enjoyable as a result of the COVID protocol means the gamers can’t hand around in Tootsies on Friday.

phickey@postmedia.com

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