MTL@CAR: Postgame

RALEIGH - The Canadiens lost 3-1 to the Hurricanes on Tuesday night at PNC Arena.

As per tradition, the Canadiens played one last pregame soccer before 2019 came to a close.
Let's just say that Brendan Gallagher is going to want to forget this one.

It was a special night at PNC Arena for 23-year-old Lukas Vejdemo, who played his first career NHL game on Tuesday.

The Hurricanes took the lead early in the game. With Artturi Lehkonen in the box, Sebastian Aho whacked the puck in the air to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The Canes' lead didn't last too long, however. Around two minutes after Aho's goal, forward Max Domi broke up a play in the Carolina zone before getting off a perfect top-corner shot to tie things up.

With the goal, Domi extended his scoring streak to six games. The last Habs player to enjoy a six-game goal-scoring run was Max Pacioretty, back in January 2015.
The teams headed to the room tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Carolina took the lead again with 12:26 to go in the middle frame when Erik Haula beat Charlie Lindgren to make it 2-1.
Rod Brind'Amour's squad was leading 22-19 in shots after 40 minutes.
There was some bad news for Habs fans, as Gallagher left the game in the second period after a run-in with teammate Ben Chiarot. He did not return.
Lindgren made an incredible save early in the third period to keep his team in the game.

The Habs thought they had tied things up with 8:08 to go in regulation when Ryan Poehling drove to the net to pick up a loose puck and make it 2-2.
But the Hurricanes challenged the play on account of goaltender interference, and the goal was indeed overturned after review to keep the score at 2-1.
Ryan Dzingel added an empty-netter to make it 3-1.
The Canadiens play their first game of 2020 on Thursday, when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Bell Centre.