Ducks 3, Canadiens 1
John Gibson came within 1:41 of his third career shutout as host Anaheim extended its winning streak to four games.
Defenseman Francois Beauchemin and Rickard Rakell scored for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks, who moved two points ahead of idle Nashville in the race for the Presidents' Trophy. Blue-liner Cam Fowler added a short-handed empty-net goal and Gibson finished with 37 saves for his sixth win in seven decisions.
Alex Galchenyuk spoiled the shutout bid with a late power-play goal for the Canadiens, who fell to 0-2-0 on their four-game road trip. Carey Price turned aside 30 shots as Montreal failed to increase its two-point lead over the New York Islanders and Rangers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Anaheim needed only 6 1/2 minutes to give Gibson a lead with which to work. Kyle Palmieri carried the puck over the blue line and dished it to Beauchemin, who fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that glanced off the left post and in for his fourth goal in eight games.
Rakell doubled the lead midway through the second period with his first tally in 16 contests. Price stopped defenseman Hampus Lindholm's blast from the left point, but Rakell buried the rebound from the doorstep for his sixth of the campaign.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Beauchemin's goal was his eighth of the season, matching his career high. ... Anaheim LW Jiri Sekac notched his third assist in five games since being acquired from Montreal. ... Canadiens Fs Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn had forgettable debuts after being obtained from Buffalo at Monday's trade deadline as they both finished with minus-2 ratings.