Flynn, Pacioretty goals help Canadiens top Senators 3 1 end 4 game losing run

Brian Flynn (left) and Max Pacioretty (right)
(Photo from Wikipedia)

MONTREAL—Brian Flynn and Max Pacioretty scored in the first period and the Montreal Canadiens ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

Jeff Petry also scored for Montreal (20-8-3), which scored more than two goals in a game for the first time in six contests.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for Ottawa (15-10-5), which ended a four-game road trip at 1-3-0,

Determined to break their losing streak, and facing a flat-looking opponent, the Canadiens tied a team record with 27 shots on Craig Anderson in the first period and took a two-goal lead.

Nathan Beaulieu’s wrap-around was blocked but Flynn was at the far post to score on the rebound 2:48 into the game. Tomas Plekanec sent Pacioretty in on his off-wing to put a wrist shot under the crossbar at 19:27 to double the lead.

Petry trailed in to take a feed from Dale Weise and scored from the slot 5:39 into the second frame.

It was after a goal was disallowed at 6:25 because Pacioretty batted the puck in with his hand that coach Dave Cameron pulled Anderson for Chris Driedger, who had only 22:52 of previous NHL experience in a game last season in New York.

The move woke up the Senators and Pageau, with a third goal in three games against Montreal this season, won a race for a big rebound off Alex Chiasson’s shot on a counterattack to beat Dustin Tokarski to the glove side at 11:24.

Anderson allowed three goals on 31 shots, while Driedger stopped all 11 he faced. He has yet to allow a goal in the NHL.

Tokarski faced 26 shots.

Notes: Montreal last had 27 shots in one period in 1973 and 1977. The league record is 33 by Boston against Chicago in 1941. . . The Canadiens are 3-4-1 since Carey Price suffered a lower-body injury Nov.

25. . . Beaulieu returned to the Montreal lineup after sitting out a game. . . Anderson made a 14th straight start for Ottawa.