Maple Leafs blank Canadiens for sixth win in a row
MONTREAL -- Frederik Andersen made 33 saves for his second straight shutout and the Toronto Maple Leafs got their sixth win in a row with a 6-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Andersen made 16 saves during a scoreless first period on his way to his 13th career shutout. He had 42 saves in a 1-0 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
Toronto center Auston Matthews scored twice in his return to the lineup after missing four games because of an upper-body injury.
The Maple Leafs' winning streak is their longest since a six-game streak from Dec. 6 to Dec. 16, 2014.
Matthews' first goal at 8:59 of the third period, the Maple Leafs' third of four goals in the period, made it 5-0 and chased Montreal goalie Charlie Lindgren, who made 22 saves in his seventh consecutive start.
Montreal lost its third straight (0-2-1) and is 1-3-1 in its past five games.
Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the second period on goals 37 seconds apart by Ron Hainsey and Nazem Kadri.
Hainsey scored his first goal on a wrist shot past Lindgren from the top of the slot at 12:07. Kadri increased the Maple Leafs' lead to two with his 10th goal at 12:44.
Brown made it 3-0 with his eighth goal 25 seconds into the third.
Van Riemsdyk scored his 10th goal at 8:11.
Matthews scored his 11th goal 48 seconds later to increase the lead to 5-0. He got his second goal of the game, his 12th, at 15:27 when he snapped a shot past Antti Niemi, who made his Montreal debut in relief of Lindgren.
NOTES: Hockey Hall of Fame members Ray Bourque (Boston), Yvan Cournoyer (Montreal), Rod Gilbert (New York Rangers), Dave Keon (Toronto), Frank Mahovlich (Detroit) and Denis Savard (Chicago) represented the NHL's "Original Six" teams for a pregame ceremony in honor of the league's 100th anniversary celebrations. ... The Maple Leafs improved to 7-0-0 when leading after two periods. ... Maple Leafs C Auston Matthews played his 99th NHL game. Toronto was 4-0-0 while Matthews was sidelined. ... Maple Leafs G Frederick Andersen got his first assist of the season on Toronto's second goal. ... Canadiens LW Max Pacioretty, C Jonathan Drouin and D Jordie Benn played after missing practice Friday because of the flu. ... Montreal coach Claude Julien dressed the same lineup as Thursday.