Habs Shut Out Capitals

December 13, 1999 / 11:46 PM EST / CBS/AP

The injury-riddled Montreal Canadiens are used to playing without key team members. Now, the defense is stepping up to help.

Jose Theodore made 19 saves and Martin Rucinsky's second-period goal held up as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Washington Capitals 1-0 Monday night.

Montreal lead the NHL with 197 man-games lost due to injuries heading into this game. The Canadiens have placed 19 players on the injured list this season.

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"We've had an average of six to 10 of our veteran players out each game, and we had eight tonight," Montreal coach Alain Vigneault said. "We are still finding ways to compete. We battled hard and played one of our best defensive games of the year."

The Canadiens outshot Washington, 20-19, and allowed the Capitals few scoring chances. Montreal often kept three players back on defense, and Washington couldn't solve the puzzle.

"We knew on the road that we needed to play a solid defensive game," Theodore said. "That's how you win hockey games play well defensively."

Theodore was barely tested in earning his first shutout this season.

Washington has been shut out in two straight games. Pittsburgh blanked the Capitals 3-0 Thursday.

The Capitals now have been held scoreless for 120 minutes, 15 seconds. Richard Zednik got the last Washington goal when he scored into an empty net in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders last week.

Rucinsky scored a power-play goal with 2:55 left in the second period. The Canadiens had a two-man advantage when Rucinsky one-timed Eric Weinrich's pass and beat goalie Olaf Kolzig from the right circle.

The Capitals have scored two goals or less in seven of nine games and generated few threats against the Canadiens.

"Once again, we didn't shoot the puck, and you've got to credit Montreal," Washington coach Ron Wilson said. "They were right in our face."

Washington ran into a Montreal team that has played very well recently on the road. The Canadiens have won five of six away games while remaining winless (0-3-1) in recent home games.

The Capitals went long stretches without even getting a shot. Washington needed seven minutes to get a shot in the opening period and couldn't get one in the final period until 13:01 had elapsed.

This was the 100th meeting between the two teams, with Montreal holding a 51-33-16 series lead. The Canadiens have not lost in their last five games at Washington, going 3-0-2 since April 10, 1997.

Neither team got a shot for almost seven minutes at the start of the game. Montreal cleared the puck well, played tough defense and gave Washington little throughout the game.

The Capitals left the ice at game's end to a loud chorus of boos.