Jake Allen’s 34-save effort against his former team highlights Devils’ 4-0 win over Canadiens

MONTREAL — Jake Allen made 34 saves and unopen retired his erstwhile squad arsenic the New Jersey Devils bushed the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 connected Saturday.

Allen, traded from Montreal to New Jersey astatine past season’s deadline, denied Montreal’s Owen Beck connected a punishment changeable with 15 seconds near to unafraid his 4th shutout of the play successful his 20th start.

Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes each had a extremity and an assist, and Paul Cotter and Luke Hughes besides scored for New Jersey.

Sam Montembeault stopped 18 shots for Montreal, which mislaid for the seventh clip successful 8 games.

TAKEAWAYS

Devils: Allen bushed Montreal for the 2nd clip successful 2 weeks. He made 29 saves successful a 4-3 overtime triumph implicit the Devils connected Jan. 25.

Canadiens: Regrouped aft a dilatory start, but couldn’t lick Allen. He slid crossed the crease to contradict Cole Caufield precocious successful the archetypal period, and stopped Josh Anderson connected a breakaway successful the second.

KEY MOMENT

In-house announcer Michel Lacroix asked fans to respect the nationalist anthems “despite caller events.” Fans successful arenas crossed Canada person booed the American nationalist anthem, apt successful effect to a looming commercialized warfare betwixt Canada and the United States, sparked by the menace of tariffs by President Donald Trump.

Fans astatine the Bell Centre were mostly silent, with sporadic jeers, during the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner.” The assemblage sang on passionately during “O Canada.”

KEY STAT

Bratt extended his constituent streak to 8 games, posting 2 goals and 10 assists during the run. In 3 games against Montreal this season, helium has 4 goals and 3 assists.

UP NEXT

New Jersey begins a two-week interruption for the 4 Nations Face-Off tourney and returns to big Dallas connected Feb. 22. Montreal hosts Tampa Bay connected Sunday.