Canadiens 3, Avalanche 2
Defenseman P.K. Subban scored a pair of second-period goals as host Montreal rallied to continue its hot start to the season.
Alex Galchenyuk recorded a goal and an assist as the Canadiens improved to 5-1-0 despite having yet to hold the lead after the first period. Carey Price turned aside 32 shots for the Canadiens, who recorded back-to-back goals from players coming out of the penalty box.
Alex Tanguay and Jarome Iginla scored for Colorado, which dropped its third in a row to finish 1-2-1 on its four-game road trip. Calvin Pickard made 33 saves in his first NHL start for the Avalanche, who failed on four power-play chances.
Mitchell set up Tanguay on a 2-on-1 just 2:23 into the contest for the only goal of the first period, but the Canadiens answered with three tallies in the second. Subban teed up a laser from the top of the left faceoff circle while on the power play at 4:13 before Galchenyuk put Montreal ahead seven minutes later, coming out of the penalty box and forcing a turnover before breaking in and snapping a shot past Pickard.
Subban made it 3-1 immediately after serving a penalty, chasing down a long lead pass behind the net before circling in front and deking Pickard with 2:01 left in the session. Colorado cut the deficit to a goal with 2:31 remaining in the game, when Iginla lunged to deflect a shot by Matt Duchene past Price.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Subban recorded his first multi-goal performance in the regular season since scoring twice against the New York Islanders on March 21, 2013. ... Tanguay scored his 143rd goal as a member of the Avalanche to surpass Dale Hunter for sole possession of ninth place on the franchise list. ... Price allowed fewer than three goals for the first time in five starts this season to improve to 5-3-1 lifetime against Colorado.