HabsWorld.net --
PITTSBURGH (Ticker) — Defenseman Sheldon Souray recorded a career-high five assists and scored as the Montreal Canadiens routed the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins, 8-0.
Rookie Michael Ryder added two goals and a pair of assists, scoring the only goal Jose Theodore needed to record his fifth shutout of the season and 22nd career.
Souray, who had three points in the previous two games against Pittsburgh this season, registered assists on the first four goals – all on the power play. He scored with a slap shot from inside the blue line 8:28 into the third period, making it 6-0.
Souray finished with a career-best six points. He had four, with a hat trick and assist, against Nashville on December 18.
Theodore stopped seven shots in the opening period, 10 in the second and eight in the final 20 minutes to improve to 11-3-1 lifetime against Pittsburgh.
Ryder put a backhander past the stick side of Sebastien Caron with 2:03 left in the first period and tallied on a rebound following a shot by Souray to make it 5-0 midway through the third.
Ryder leads all NHL rookies with 20 assists and 31 points.
The Canadiens improved to 14-3-2 in the last 19 meetings with the Penguins – including a pair of 4-1 wins earlier this season – and 102-38-23 in the all-time series.
The Penguins lost their fourth straight on home ice, during which they have allowed 23 goals.
