National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 2, Montreal 1
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Mark Lemelin, Wes McCauley
Linesmen: Don Henderson, Shane Heyer
Attendance: 19034

Wild 2, Canadiens 1: Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves and Jason Pominville scored the game-winning goal as host Minnesota edged Montreal.

Kuemper came within 58 seconds of his fourth shutout of the season for the Wild, who have points in three straight games (2-0-1). Jason Zucker added a first-period goal in the victory, which improved Minnesota to 1-0-1 on its four-game homestand.

Alex Galchenyuk spoiled Kuemper's shutout bid with a last-minute tally for the Canadiens, who wore No. 4 decals on their helmets in honor of late Montreal legend Jean Beliveau. Carey Price stopped 33 shots in Montreal's fourth loss in five games.

Zucker opened the scoring with a bizarre goal just 19 seconds into the game. Skating unchallenged along the end line, Zucker flipped a shot that glanced off the crossbar, caromed off Price's back and fluttered into the net for his fifth tally in seven games.

Pominville extended the lead 12:10 into the second period, redirecting defenseman Christian Folin's point shot on a play that was upheld after a lengthy video review. Galchenyuk finally put Montreal on the board with 58 seconds left in the third, blasting a point-blank shot into a partially open net after receiving a pass from David Desharnais.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Beliveau passed away Tuesday at age 83. The Hall-of-Famer won the Stanley Cup a whopping 17 times as a player and coach - the most in hockey history. ... Montreal has scored first in just nine of its 27 games this season and fell to 8-8-2 when allowing the first goal. ... Galchenyuk's tally ended a personal 10-game goalless drought.
Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Minnesota
Alex Galchenyuk 1 Points Jason Pominville 1
Alex Galchenyuk 1 Goals Jason Pominville 1
David Desharnais 1 Assists Christian Folin 1
N/A Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Carey Price .943 Save Percentage Darcy Kuemper .947
Carey Price 33 Saves Darcy Kuemper 18
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 19 1 0-1 5-5 23 32
Minnesota 35 2 0-5 1-1 2 29
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Wild have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .600 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .647 after a win and .600 after a loss.