Canadiens 2, Devils 1
MONTREAL -- Special teams were the difference as the Montreal Canadiens edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.
Left winger Max Pacioretty and center Torrey Mitchell scored for Montreal (23-16-3). Center Adam Henrique replied for the Devils (20-16-5).
Goaltender Mike Condon stopped 19 shots for the Canadiens while counterpart Cory Schneider made 23 saves for New Jersey.
A late first-period power play set the table for the Canadiens to open the scoring at 19:00. After passing the puck around for a stretch, looking for an opening, defenseman P.K. Subban fed Tomas Plekanec along the right side. The center skated just inside the circle before dishing off to Pacioretty at the other side of the circle for the tip-in, with right winger Brendan Gallagher screening Schneider.
The Devils challenged for goaltender interference on the play but the call on the ice stood.
Center David Desharnais had a chance to double the Canadiens' lead at 16:31 when he was awarded a penalty shot after New Jersey's Jordin Tootoo used a broken stick on the ice to get the puck away from the Habs' forward, but his shot went high.
Schneider is now 4-for-4 on penalty shots he's faced this season.
Nearly two minutes later, Montreal's penalty kill made it 2-0. An attempted pass by the Devils at the Montreal blue line went into the neutral zone, where left winger Paul Byron picked it up before skating in on a 2-on-1 with Mitchell. Byron waited and Devils defenseman Damon Severson dropped and slid out of position, opening Mitchell up for an easy tip-in on Schneider's left.
The goal was the Canadiens' eighth short-hander this season, tying them with the Ottawa Senators for the league lead. Byron's helper was his fifth point on the penalty kill, moving him into top spot in the NHL.
The Devils got on the board 50 seconds into the third period. Right winger Lee Stempniak sent the puck along the boards to defenseman Andy Greene at the point. The Devils captain fired and Henrique, inside the top of the left circle, deflected it five-hole on a screened Condon.
Shortly thereafter, Montreal thought it had restored its two-goal lead on a Plekanec tally, but it was quickly waved off for being batted in by a high stick.
New Jersey defenseman John Moore played one shift in the first period before leaving the game with an injury. He did not return.
NOTES: Montreal made one change to its lineup from Tuesday's loss, inserting RW Sven Andrighetto in place of LW Tomas Fleischmann, a healthy scratch alongside D Jarred Tinordi and D Greg Pateryn. ... Injuries sidelined Devils D David Schlemko, LW Mike Cammalleri (upper body), C/W Patrik Elias and C Jacob Josefson while C Tyler Kennedy was a healthy scratch. ... New Jersey D Andy Greene suited up for his 600th career NHL game -- all with the Devils -- becoming the sixth defenseman and 16th player in franchise history to reach the mark. ... The game was Montreal's first since Dec. 17, coming after a season-high eight straight on the road. ... Canadiens D P.K. Subban was selected to the 2016 All-Star team on Wednesday. ... G Cory Schneider is the Devils' representative on the All-Star team.