Habs extend winning streak with win over Leafs
TORONTO --The Montreal Canadiens had five different scorers Saturday night and defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3, their third win in the three meetings so far this season between the teams.
Max Pacioretty, Artturi Lehkonen, Nikita Scherbak, Alexander Radulov and Michael McCarron scored the goals for Montreal.
Shea Weber and Jeff Petry added two assists each for the Canadiens (25-9-6), who extended their winning streak to three games.
The Maple Leafs had goals from Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri and James van Riemsdyk, who also had two assists. Mitch Marner added three assists for Toronto (18-13-8).
Carey Price stopped 33 shots in the Montreal net.
Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen made 26 saves.
The Canadiens led 4-3 after two periods and took their third two-goal lead of the game at 3:51 of the third period on McCarron's first goal of the season.
Pacioretty opened the scoring from the slot 20 seconds into the game with his 19th goal of the season on a feed from Radulov.
Montreal took a 2-0 lead at 3:47 when the Maple Leafs' defense was caught pinching and Lehkonen scored his eighth goal of the season on a shot from the right faceoff circle that went in under Andersen's right arm.
Toronto came back to tie in the first period on two power-play goals.
Bozak scored his ninth of the season at 7:55 with Tomas Plekanec off for slashing.
Kadri scored his 16th goal of the season at 16:01 with Radulov off for hooking.
The Canadiens regained the lead on the power play at 19:59 of the first when Scherbak scored in his first NHL game with Jake Gardiner serving a hooking penalty.
Radulov's 10th goal of the season on a power play gave the Canadiens a 4-2 lead 36 seconds into the second period, 16 seconds after Marner took a hooking penalty.
Each team lost a player to a game misconduct at 10:10 of the second period -- Montreal's Bobby Farnham and Toronto's Frederik Gauthier -- after two fights broke out. Montreal's Michael McCarron and Toronto's Matt Martin received roughing minors and fighting majors for their brawl.
James Van Riemsdyk scored his 14th goal of the season at 18:15 of the second on a tip-in, taking advantage of Marner's puck control and pass, to cut the lead to 4-3.
NOTES: Montreal promoted RW Sven Andrighetto and RW Nikita Scherbak from St. John's of the American Hockey League on Friday. Andrighetto had played eight games this season with the Canadiens while Scherbak was making his NHL debut Saturday. ... Montreal RW Brendan Gallagher (fractured left hand) will be out for at least eight weeks after a shot by teammate D Shea Weber hit him during the win over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. ... Canadiens LW Paul Byron (upper body) also was injured in the game on Wednesday. ... The Canadiens won the first two games between the teams this season, both 2-1 at the Bell Centre. The teams play once more, March 23 at the Air Canada Centre. Saturday's contest was the 735th game between the rivals. ... The Maple Leafs are off until Friday when they visit the New York Rangers. ... The Canadiens are home to the Washington Capitals on Monday.