Canadiens score 3 in third to beat Maple Leafs 5-2

Toronto Maple Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski (84) is hauled down by Montreal Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin (74) as he tries to shoot on goaltender Carey Price during second period NHL action in Toronto on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn)

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The Canadian Press
Published Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:23PM EST
Last Updated Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:31PM EST

TORONTO -- Brendan Gallagher, Max Pacioretty and Brian Gionta scored third-period goals to earn the Montreal Canadiens an impressive 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night.

Gallagher scored his sixth of the season at 9:08 of the third to break a 2-2 tie before Pacioretty cemented the win with his sixth and second of the game at 14:26. Gionta scored into the empty net at 17:34.

The victory was sweet redemption for Montreal (13-4-3), which suffered an embarrassing 6-0 home loss to Toronto on Feb. 9.

Since then, the streaking Canadiens have gone 7-0-2 and dominated the Leafs, outshooting the hosts 40-23 before a season-high Air Canada Centre gathering of 19,625.

The loss tarnished an outstanding performance by Toronto goaltender Ben Scrivens. The lanky Albertan, making his eighth straight start, kept the Leafs in the game despite being badly outplayed after winning the two previous meetings.

There was bad blood between the two longtime rivals, stemming from their last meeting in Montreal where an alleged biting incident involving Mikhail Grabovski and Pacioretty took place. And while Montreal and Toronto played a physical game Wednesday night, they stuck to hockey with no major incident this time.

Defenceman Alexei Emelin had the other goal for Montreal.

Frazer McLaren and Clarke MacArthur scored for Toronto (12-9-0), which had won three straight at home.

The Canadiens had forward Michael Ryder in the lineup after re-acquiring the former Hab from the Dallas Stars this week for Erik Cole. Ryder didn't figure in the scoring but wore his usual No. 73 after rookie Gallagher gave it up for Ryder, who has had No. 73 since breaking into the NHL in '03. Gallagher wore No. 11.

Montreal controlled much of the first, outshooting the Leafs 12-4 but it was Frazer who opened the scoring with his second at 13:44, converting the home team's third shot of the game. Emelin tied it with his first at 16:56 before Toronto's Mike Brown received a checking from behind major and game misconduct for a hit on the Canadiens' Josh Gorges at 19:23.

Pacioretty put Montreal ahead on the power play at 4:17 of the second. Scrivens attempted to deflect P.K. Subban's point shot to the corner but it deflected in off Pacioretty for his fifth. The Canadiens nearly made it 3-1 but Scrivens robbed Gallagher with just over nine minutes remaining.

Toronto had a glorious chance to tie the score when Grabovski was awarded a penalty shot at 11:45 after being hauled down by Emelin. But Grabovski, who came in having recorded 18 points in 26 games against his former club, couldn't beat Price to the stick side on the attempted deke.

MacArthur tied it at 15:47 with his fifth but Montreal narrowly missed going ahead as Emelin's blast went off the post with just over two minutes left in the period.

Notes: This is the third of five meetings this season between Toronto and Montreal . . . James Reimer served as Scrivens' backup after being added to the active roster earlier Wednesday. Reimer had been out since suffering a knee injury Feb. 11 against Philadelphia. Goalie goalie Jussi Rynnas was reassigned to the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Reimer is expected to start Thursday night's road game against the New York Islanders . . . With Rafael Diaz (concussion) out, defenceman Tomas Kaberle suited up against his former team . . . Toronto defenceman Mark Fraser came into the game leading the NHL with a plus-14 rating.