Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 2 (SO)
TORONTO -- Center Lars Eller scored the decisive goal in a shootout and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday.
Eller was the fifth Montreal shooter after each team had scored a goal in the first four rounds.
Center David Desharnais and left winger Tomas Fleischmann scored for the Canadiens in regulation time.
Center Nazem Kadri and left winger Joffrey Lupul scored for the Maple Leafs.
Toronto goaltender James Reimer made 27 saves.
Montreal goaltender Mike Condon stopped 17 shots.
Both teams have been struggling. The Canadiens came into the game having won only four times in their past 21 games. They had lost their five previous games, including one in overtime.
The Maple Leafs had lost six of their previous seven games, including one in overtime.
Montreal built a 2-0 lead in the first period and Toronto got one back in the second.
The Maple Leafs (17-20-9) tied the game 2-2 on the 11th goal of the season by Lupul, who scooped in a rebound of a shot by center Peter Holland at 4:37 of the third period.
Reimer foiled the Canadiens at 7:29 of the third, stopping a backhand by right winger Brendan Gallagher who broke in alone.
Then at 10:15, a Montreal shot hit each post but did not cross the line.
Montreal (24-20-4) went on the power play at 16:54 of the third when Toronto left winger Josh Leivo took a delay-of-game penalty but the Maple Leafs killed it to force overtime.
Desharnais scored his ninth goal of the season -- and second in his past 26 games -- at 1:41 of the first period on a shot from low in the left faceoff circle. It completed a three-way passing play with right winger Dale Weise and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu.
Fleischmann scored his ninth goal of the season on a wrist shot from the high slot at 18:33 of the first period on a pass from Eller and Montreal led 2-0.
The Canadiens outshot the Maple Leafs 14-3 in the first period.
The Maple Leafs cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:14 of the second period. Defenseman Morgan Rielly backhanded a pass from the right faceoff circle into the low slot and Kadri knocked it in for his ninth goal of the season.
The Leafs outshot the Habs 8-5 in the second period.
NOTES: Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin ended speculation about a possible coaching change because of Montreal's struggles when he said Thursday that Michel Therrien will remain in the position for at least the rest of the season. ... G Carey Price (lower body) is expected to remain out of the lineup for three or four more weeks. ... Maple Leafs C Nick Spaling (upper body) is close to a return but missed his 16th game because of his injury. ... Montreal won the first two meetings between the teams this season. The teams play once more, on Feb. 27 at Air Canada Centre. ... The Canadiens play their next game on Monday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs visit the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.