Jets spoil Julien's Canadiens return with 3-1 victory

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien talks with players Max Pacioretty (67), Alex Galchenyuk (27) and Michael McCarron during the frist period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Montreal, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

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Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price makes a save against Winnipeg Jets' Shawn Matthias (16) as Canadiens' Nathan Beaulieu (28) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

Montreal Canadiens' Andrei Markov (79) scores against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck as Canadiens' Alexander Radulov looks for a rebound during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP) (The Associated Press)

MONTREAL – Patrik Laine and Mathieu Perreault each had a goal and an assist, and the Winnipeg Jets spoiled Claude Julien's return to Montreal with a 3-1 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday.

Joel Armia also scored for Winnipeg (27-29-5), and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots. The Jets had dropped five of six.

The Canadiens fired coach Michel Therrien on Tuesday and hired Julien in hopes of getting their season back on track. Julien also coached Montreal from 2003-2006.

But Julien's first game back was more of the same for the first-place Canadiens (31-20-8), who have lost three in a row and seven of eight.