Theodore Blanks Red Wings

Red Wings roster

"Probably the best game we've played in the past two years," Montreal coach Alain Vigneault said. "Tonight we did the best penalty-killing and we got the best goaltending."

Jose Theodore learned only Tuesday morning that he would start the game in Montreal's net as Jeff Hackett, who was scheduled to get the start, turned ill. It didn't matter as Theodore stopped all 28 shots to earn his second shutout of the season.

"Not a lot of people thought we'd have a chance to beat Detroit, but we did the job," Theodore said. "Even my own family were upset that I was starting this game. They were worried I'd get in trouble."

The Red Wings, 27-12-4-1, ended a two-game winning streak and were shut out for the first time this season. Detroit was last shutout April 11 at Pittsburgh.

"We never take the Canadiens lightly. We're No. 1, they're No. 26. We played well, we just didn't get any bounces," Detroit's Steve Yzerman said. "This was a different game than we usually play. We usually score on our power-play chances. Tonight the power play let us down."