MONTREAL 鈥� No cheers rained down from the stands on Jonathan Drouin when he scored the shootout winner on home ice Thursday night.
Drouin was the lone scorer in the shootout as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in an empty Bell Centre, hours after Quebec public health officials asked the Habs to play without any fans in their arena in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The Canadiens agreed to the provincial government's request, making the game the first at Bell Centre without spectators since Game 4 of the North Division semifinal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 25.
"Today was a bit of a wake-up call," said Drouin. "We weren鈥檛 expecting that there wouldn鈥檛 be fans in the stands this year with the vaccines.聽
"We were told the opposite but it鈥檚 tough to see that again, without the fans鈥� energy. After that, health and safety is more important than going to watch a hockey game.鈥�
There is no word yet on whether Bell Centre will welcome fans Saturday as the rival Boston Bruins make their first visit to Montreal since Nov. 26, 2019. The Bruins had seven players on COVID-19 protocol before their 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, including stars Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchard.
Drouin said he was apprehensive about playing a team with that many players placed on protocol.
鈥淚鈥檓 not really comfortable playing against people that might have COVID,鈥� said Drouin. 鈥淲hen you have seven guys on the team (with COVID,) you can have two or three others that get it tomorrow, I don鈥檛 know.鈥�
鈥淎nyway, I don鈥檛 feel comfortable to play with that. That鈥檚 not what we were told this year with the vaccines. Of course things change over time but it鈥檚 not really ideal.鈥�
Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme didn鈥檛 want to weigh in on a potential halt to playing because of COVID-19 but understood that some players would be worried by the situation. He said he has faith the NHL will protect the players.
鈥淣ot that I feel it (in the locker room) but at the same time it鈥檚 a reflection of our society regarding this situation,鈥� Ducharme said. 鈥淪ome people are more comfortable and some are more worried. A team is a little bit like a reflection of society.鈥�
Jackson Cates said that the Flyers found out about the decision to play in an empty arena right before warmups.
鈥淭he reaction was that it鈥檚 just another game and we can鈥檛 let that bother us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to play the right way, stick to the structure and build our own energy.鈥�
The Canadiens (7-21-3) focused their own energy to snap a seven-game losing skid. Artturi Lehkonen opened scoring in the first period and Laurent Dauphin forced overtime with his first goal as a Hab.
鈥淚t felt good to break the streak. Of course it would have been better to be in front of fans but I鈥檒l take it anyway,鈥� Dauphin said.
Cayden Primeau, son of former Flyer Keith Primeau, allowed two goals on the 38 shots he faced and saved every Philadelphia shootout attempt.
Max Willman and Cates, with his first NHL goal, replied for the Flyers (11-12-5). Carter Hart stopped 38 shots and only allowed Drouin's goal in the shootout.
Lehkonen deflected Brett Kulak鈥檚 shot from the point to bag his second goal of the season.
Philadelphia tied it 2:20 into the second period when Willman took advantage of Montreal forward Nick Suzuki falling in front of the net.
Cates drove the puck in the offensive zone himself and beat Primeau with a wrist shot to make it 2-1 in the final minute of the second.
Montreal tied the game up 2-2 at 14:21 into the third period. Dauphin took advantage of a Hart rebound to net his first goal as a Hab.
Centre Mathieu Perrault didn't take part in the game. The Canadiens later confirmed that it was due to a lower-body injury.
Tristan D鈥橝mours, The Canadian Press
