Canadiens suffer heavy loss as Devils secure 10th straight win

The New Jersey Devils extended their winning streak to 10 games on Tuesday night with a comfortable 5-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Jack Hughes scored twice for the Devils (13-3-0) while Dougie Hamilton, Jesper Bratt and John Marino added singles. Evgenii Dadonov scored his first goal of the season for the Canadiens (8-7-1).

Montreal started the game aggressively and controlled the pace, forcing the best chance of the period. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield had an open two-man break but couldn’t convert.

Montreal responded almost immediately with a deflected shot from Dadonov, but the shot hit the post. Hamilton doubled New Jersey’s lead minutes later by winning a puck battle and finishing shortside.

The Canadians cut the deficit in half when a pass from Sean Monahan deflected past everyone except Dadonov, who rammed the puck into an open net.

A giveaway in the defensive zone late in the second period left Hughes alone in the slot and he made no mistakes, scoring his second goal of the night and restoring New Jersey’s two-goal lead.

The Canadians continued to look for a way to get back into the game, but couldn’t generate any offensive chances. Their constant pressing left holes in the defense and the Devils made them pay.

With seven minutes remaining, another giveaway proved costly as Bratt capitalized to put the game out of reach. Marino added an empty net goal in the dying seconds.

Both teams are back in action on Thursday. Montreal travels to Columbus to face the Blue Jackets while New Jersey visits the Toronto Maple Leafs.