Penguins 5, Canadiens 2
Alex Goligoski scored twice and Jordan Staal added a goal and two assists as the Pittsburgh Penguins victimized Montreal's league-best penalty-killing unit en route to a 5-2 victory over the host Canadiens on Wednesday.
The Penguins finished with four power-play goals against the Canadiens, who came into the game with an 87.9-percent success rate while shorthanded. Pittsburgh, which ranked second in penalty killing entering Wednesday, killed off both Montreal opportunities with the man advantage.
Staal assisted on goals by Goligoski and Tyler Kennedy and added an unassisted power-play marker in the final moments of the second period for his first points of the season. The veteran centre had been held off the scoresheet in his first five games since returning from off-season foot surgery.
The goal was just the second for Staal in 18 career games against the Canadiens.
Kris Letang had the other goal for the Pens, who won for the first time in four games without injured superstar Sidney Crosby (concussion). Pittsburgh had scored just three goals in its previous three contests before breaking out against Canadiens netminder Carey Price.
Tomas Plekanec and David Desharnais countered for the Canadiens, who lost for the first time in their last five meetings with Pittsburgh.