After one in Montreal: Canadiens 2, Kings 0

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Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier, who grew up in the nearby suburb of Laval, had about 60 friends and relatives in the crowd at the Bell Centre. They undoubtedly suffered along with him as the Canadiens took a 2-0 lead.

Montreal scored on its lone power play of the period, gained when Jack Johnson was sent off for holding Brian Gionta. The Kings had a short-handed break, with Anze Kopitar coming up the left side, but he was well defended and he held onto the puck too long to have a good angle. He tried to throw it in front for Matt Greene, but the Canadiens gained possession and made a quick transition up ice that ended with Andrei Kostitsyn scoring on a wrist shot from about 25 feet out.

The teams were skating four on four when Montreal struck again. The Canadiens entered the zone and moved the puck around quickly and accurately to set up a shot. Former King Michael Cammalleri passed to Roman Hamrlik, who returned the pass and Cammalleri took a long shot. With Scott Gomez in front crowding Bernier and maybe making enough contact to warrant an interference call, the puck deflected past Bernier at 17:37.

Gomez was credited with the goal, his third of the season.

One of referees, incidentally, was Eric Furlatt, who was involved in two controversial calls that went against the Kings on Monday in Ottawa. He appeared to get an earful from Coach Terry Murray more than once while passing the Kings’ bench.

More later at www.latimes.com/sports
Helene Elliott in Montreal