Claude Julien doesn't regret benching Max Domi after the talented forward took an ill-advised penalty during a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

The Montreal Canadiens head coach defended the move postgame, implying he wasn't just considering the one play in question when he decided to sit Domi for the final eight-plus minutes of the second period.

"I did what I had to do, simple as that," Julien said, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "I don't have to explain it more than I did. It's not the first time he's taken a bad penalty. There's consequences, and sometimes those messages (date back a lot further) than the situation right there."

Domi took a roughing minor for this play involving Blackhawks forward Matthew Highmore.

Alex DeBrincat capitalized on the power play, putting Chicago up 3-1 in the eventual 4-1 victory.

Julien then pinned Domi to the bench for the remaining 8:33 of the middle stanza, as the 24-year-old didn't take the ice again until the opening minute of the third period.

The Montreal bench boss had an opportunity to put Domi back on the ice to atone for his lapse when the Canadiens drew a man advantage of their own with 4:36 left in the second, but Julien elected to continue sitting him.

"It doesn't matter who we put on (for the power play) instead of Max," Julien said. "Max is not the guy that's going to score goals all the time here, so a power play is a five-man unit."

Meanwhile, Domi took responsibility for his infraction.

"During the play, I certainly wasn't trying to take a penalty," he said. "But I watched the replay and it's a penalty. So that's how it goes. Unfortunately, they scored on that."

The forward added, "You can't do that - especially in the situation we're in right now. It is what it is. Coach's decision, and obviously I can't afford to do that."

Montreal's defeat Wednesday night was its ninth in the last 11 games. The Canadiens fell to 20-21-7 and are now nine points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot.

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