Canadiens 2, Kings 1
Andrei Kostitsyn scored the game-winner and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens ended a three-game West Coast swing on a winning note, edging the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in a Saturday matinee.
Tomas Plekanec ended a six-game goalless drought and Carey Price made 26 saves for the Canadiens, who snapped a four-game losing streak and finished 1-1-1 on their trek through California.
Montreal led 1-0 after 20 minutes despite being outshot 14-5. Plekanec opened the scoring with 1:21 remaining in the period, swatting home a nifty pass from Kostitsyn after Yannick Weber's initial point shot was blocked.
Kostitsyn doubled the advantage just past the midway point of the second period, finishing off a tic-tac-toe passing play with Lars Eller and Louis Leblanc. The assist was Leblanc's first NHL point.
Dustin Penner trimmed the deficit with his long-awaited first goal of the season, banging home a loose puck from point-blank range. Penner had gone 14 games without scoring.
Montreal couldn't capitalize on a pair of third-period power plays that would have extended the lead, and a late Michael Cammalleri hooking call gave the Kings a chance to draw even.
Los Angeles couldn't manage a shot on goal for the first 1:12 of the advantage, and Justin Williams was given a boarding penalty to wipe out the power play.
The Canadiens held on from there as Price turned aside three shots over the final two minutes to preserve the victory.