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Habs beat Sens, run win streak to four

Nov 5, 2011 - 3:19 AM Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Andrei Kostitsyn scored the eventual game-winner in the second period and Carey Price made 33 saves as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Ottawa Senators, 2-1, at Scotiabank Place.

Erik Cole netted Montreal's other goal, also in the second period, and Mike Cammalleri had an assist for the Canadiens, who have won four straight games on the heels of six straight losses.

Zack Smith lit the lamp for the Senators, who got 24 saves from Craig Anderson in defeat.

Ottawa has lost back-to-back games after winning six straight.

With Montreal leading 2-1 late in the final period, Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges was called for a holding penalty at 18:29, giving the Senators a power play for the remainder of the game.

Ottawa pulled Anderson, making it 6-on-4, but Price stood tall in the waning moments to preserve the win for his team.

After a scoreless first period, Montreal finally broke the deadlock at 13:55 of the second thanks to some sloppy play by Ottawa. The Senators had several opportunities to clear the zone but couldn't as Cammalleri picked up a loose puck in the slot and found Cole, who snapped it short side past Anderson to give his team the lead.

The Canadiens made it 2-0 just three minutes later as a result of some more poor play in the defensive end by the Senators.

Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson went behind his own net to retrieve a dump-in and sent a breakout pass up the middle of the zone that was easily picked off by Lars Eller in the high slot. Eller moved in on goal and cleverly dished to an unchecked Kostitsyn, who fired it behind Anderson from the side of the net.

"We had the puck on the first goal and we didn't have real good support on the wall and it ends up in the net," Senators head coach Paul MacLean said. "On the second one, we go to execute in the d-zone, we had some miscommunication and the puck goes to the wrong guy."

The Senators cut it to 2-1 just 67 seconds into the third period when Erik Condra picked up the puck in the defensive zone, raced up the right wing into the Montreal side and found a cutting Smith alone in the slot. Smith deked and backhanded the puck between the right arm and body of Price.

Game Notes

This was the first meeting of the season between the Northeast Division rivals. Montreal took four of six meetings between the teams last season...Friday marked the second time the Senators wore their alternate heritage jerseys...Montreal went 0-for-2 with the man advantage, while Ottawa was unable to convert on four power play chances...The Sens will host the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, while Montreal will visit New York to tangle with the Rangers, also on Saturday.