MONTREAL (AP) — The Calgary Flames looked to a few youngsters to lead the way against the Montreal Canadiens — and they delivered.
Josh Jooris scored twice and Markus Granlund also had a goal in the Flames’ 6-2 victory over the Canadiens on Sunday night.
Rookie forward Johnny Gaudreau added two assists. The 24-year-old Jooris and the 21-year-old Granlund and Gaudreau combined for three goals, five points, and nine shots.
They were sharp for much of the game, created havoc around goalie Carey Price, and were ultimately the difference-makers.
“All those young players had great training camps,” Flames coach Bob Hartley said. “That’s where it starts. Last year we committed to a rebuild, and those kids are jumping in. Right now, we’re getting rewarded for our efforts.
“You have to spread the responsibility out there, and they’re responding well. They’re rewarding us.”
Calgary was looking for payback for a 2-1 home shootout loss to the Canadiens last Tuesday.
The Flames felt they deserved a win that night after holding a 38-19 shots advantage. They wanted to repeat that performance, only this time they looked to put more pucks into the Montreal net.
“We had a good game against them last game, so we were prepared,” said Jooris, who played 73 games with Abbotsford of the AHL last season. “We knew what to expect. We wanted to play the same way we did against them.”
Max Pacioretty and Rene Bourque scored for Montreal (8-3-1), and Price made 30 saves.
The Canadiens had been 4-0 at home and they were looking for their best start in Montreal since 1979.
The Flames (7-4-2) came into this one — their first stop on a five-game trip — with just five first-period goals in their first 12 games. They put two past Price in the opening 20 minutes.
Jooris scored his second of the season at 4:58 after gathering a big rebound in front and patiently waiting out Price to make it 1-0.
“It’s a loud building,” Jooris said of his first time in the arena. “The nerves were there, but it was good nerves. I was really excited to play here. It’s an exciting building to play in. Once we got the first shift in, we settled in.”
The Canadiens, outshot 19-4 in the first, have allowed the opening goal 10 times in their 12 games.
“We’re making it hard on ourselves with those starts,” said Tomas Plekanec, who was a minus-2. “When you score first, it’s a different story, and you get more confidence to play. If you have to chase the score, it’s not going to happen all the time.”
Gaudreau added his second assist of the night on Calgary’s second goal in the final minute of the first. He fed Jiri Hudler, whose shot deflected off Granlund’s skate and in past Price.
Gaudreau has eight points in seven games since being a healthy scratch against Columbus on Oct. 17.
“There’s a lot of history here,” said the rookie, who had aunts and uncles make the drive from Vermont to watch from the stands. “We just looked at it as a great experience. We wanted to make the most out of it. The older guys led by example.”
Glencross made it 3-0 late in the second period when he redirected an off-target shot from TJ Brodie.
Pacioretty got one back for the Canadiens 37 seconds into the third period. Montreal’s co-leader in goals and points came out from behind Calgary’s net and used Brodie as a screen to beat Hiller from a tight angle.
Montreal has scored 14 of its 27 goals in the third period.
But there was no comeback in store for the Canadiens, as Jooris sealed the deal with his second of the game on a breakaway during a power play at 8:48. Bouma made it 5-1 two minutes later.
Bourque added a consolation goal at 13:18 before Giordano scored into an empty net.
NOTES: Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk finished minus-3. … Jiri Sekac, Michael Bournival and Jarrod Tinordi were left out of the lineup for the Canadiens. Sekac hasn’t played since Oct. 18 against Colorado. Bournival has yet to make his season debut. … With Calgary’s Joe Colborne out of the lineup with a wrist injury, 22-year-old winger Sven Baertschi got the start on the fourth line. … Before the game, Price was awarded the Molson Cup for his stellar play in October.
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