Canadiens 5, Jets 1
MONTREAL -- Tomas Fleischmann paced the Canadiens' offense with two goals and an assist in Montreal's 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday night at the Bell Centre.
Left wingers Paul Byron and Lars Eller and center David Desharnais also scored for Montreal (11-2-0).
Right winger Chris Thorburn scored the lone goal for Winnipeg (7-4-1).
Goaltender Mike Condon made 18 saves and won his fourth game in as many starts. Jets netminder Michael Hutchinson stopped five shots before being replaced by Ondrej Pavelec, who made 16 saves in relief.
Byron opened the scoring for Montreal with his second short-handed goal in as many games at 6:34 of the first period. After defenseman Jeff Petry denied the Jets entry to the Canadiens' zone, center Torrey Mitchell sent the puck up the ice. Byron used his speed to beat out left winger Andrew Ladd at the Winnipeg blue line before skating in and deking Hutchinson glove side.
Fleischmann doubled the lead at 16:26 of the opening period. Desharnais drove in along the right side and cut to the front of the net, getting a shot off that was denied by Hutchinson.
But Fleischmann was there for the rebound, poking the loose puck in to the goalie's left.
Fleischmann made it 3-0 Montreal just 35 seconds into the middle frame with his second goal of the game. Some short, quick passes got the puck out of the Canadiens' end and up to the winger, who snapped a shot from the right faceoff dot for his fourth of the season.
The third line was at it again nearly three minutes later. Winnipeg defenseman Tyler Myer's clearing attempt became a turnover just outside the Jets' blue line.
Hutchinson made the initial save on Desharnais, but the Canadiens' center picked up the rebound and lifted it just under the cross bar.
That would be the end for Hutchinson in goal, replaced by Pavelec after giving up four goals on nine shots.
Eller put the Canadiens ahead 5-0 when, in the slot, he redirected defenseman Andrei Markov's pass from the left wall with his skate at 17:51 on the power play.
Thorburn got the Jets on the board at 13:57 of the third period when center Mark Scheifele found him in slot for his second of the season.
NOTES: Winnipeg rookie RW Nikolaj Ehlers' parents were in attendance at the Bell Centre, their first time seeing their son live in an NHL game. ... The Canadiens announced Sunday morning that G Carey Price will be out a week with a lower-body injury sustained Thursday night in Edmonton. ... Montreal scratched RW Alexander Semin, D Jarred Tinordi and D Greg Pateryn. ... Jets C Nic Petan drew back in after sitting as a healthy scratch Saturday night in Columbus. ... Winnipeg scratched C Andrew Copp, D Adam Pardy and D Paul Postma. ... Montreal D Nathan Beaulieu played in his 100th NHL game.