Canadiens 3, Devils 2
MONTREAL -- Montreal left winger Alex Galchenyuk scored 9:34 into the third period to send the Canadiens on to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.
All three Montreal forwards were in the goalmouth when Galchenyuk redirected defenseman Alexei Emelin's point shot past New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur.
Canadiens center David Desharnais set up second-period goals by left wingers Rene Bourque, who also assisted on Galchenyuk's goal, and Max Pacioretty to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
Goalie Carey Price made 28 saves for Montreal, which was outshot 30-17, including 11-4 in the second..
The Canadiens have claimed 13 of a possible 14 points while going 6-0-1 in their last seven games.
Right wingers Steve Bernier and Michael Ryder scored for the Devils, who had won their two previous games following a three-game losing streak. Brodeur stopped 14 shots in the first of back-to-back games between the two Eastern Conference teams.
The Devils host Montreal on Wednesday night.
Ryder drew New Jersey even at 2-2 with a slap shot past Price 4:42 into the third. Bernier opened the scoring with his third goal midway through the first.
Montreal scored on consecutive shots in the second, shots that came eight minutes apart.
Bourque scored his sixth goal at 8:49 to tie it at 1. Desharnais made a blind backhand pass to set up Bourque as he drove through the right faceoff circle to snap a shot past Brodeur.
Pacioretty, who scored twice in a 4-2 win against Toronto on Saturday, put the Canadiens ahead with his 10th goal on a power play at 16:49.
Bernier deflected defenseman Anton Volchenkov's point shot to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead at 11:13 of the first.
NOTES: Devils G Martin Brodeur played his first game in Montreal since his father died in September. Denis Brodeur was the Canadiens' photographer when Martin was growing up, and he remained a constant presence at rinkside, where he shot action photos of his son whenever New Jersey played at Bell Centre. ... New Jersey LW Tim Sestito made his season debut. He was recalled from AHL Albany on Sunday. ... The Canadiens had allowed two goals or less, including a 3-2 shootout loss in Washington on Nov. 22, while going 7-1-2 in their 10 previous games. ... D Francis Bouillon, C Ryan White and RW George Parros did not dress for Montreal.
