Canadiens Hold Off Sharks To Maintain Winning Run - Other Sports - Sports

The win was the fourth in a row for the Canadiens, who scored all of their goals during a seven-minute spree in the first period.

The streaking Montreal Canadiens scored three early goals before holding on for a 3-2 victory over Western Conference leader San Jose on Saturday, netminder Jaroslav Halak ensuring the win with 46 saves.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Canadiens, who scored all of their goals during a seven-minute spree in the first period.

Andrei Markov and Saku Koivu each had a goal and an assist to spark the Eastern Conference's fifth-ranked team, while Josh Gorges provided the other goal for the hosts.

San Jose struck back with second-period goals from Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton just 49 seconds apart, but could not find the elusive tying score against young netminder Halak.

The 23-year-old Slovakian halted 20 consecutive San Jose shots in the third.

Markov's slap shot on a powerplay gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead 11:05 into the contest before Gorges connected off a Koivu assist two minutes later and the Finn added his own goal 17:47 into the period.

Pavelski scored on a powerplay just a minute into the second period and Thornton followed soon after to silence the home crowd.

NHL STANDINGS on Saturday
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. New Jersey   40 19 3   193 153 83
 2. Philadelphia 33 17 10  198 175 76
 3. NY Rangers   32 24 8   159 175 72
 4. Pittsburgh   31 26 6   191 195 68
 5. NY Islanders 19 36 7   150 204 45
 NORTHEAST DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Boston       42 12 9   215 142 93
 2. Montreal     34 22 7   194 189 75
 3. Buffalo      31 25 7   182 175 69
 4. Toronto      25 26 12  191 227 62
 5. Ottawa       23 28 10  152 176 56
 SOUTHEAST DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Washington   40 18 5   211 182 85
 2. Florida      31 23 8   171 173 70
 3. Carolina     32 27 5   169 186 69
 4. Tampa Bay    20 30 12  156 198 52
 5. Atlanta      23 34 6   188 221 52
 WESTERN CONFERENCE
 CENTRAL DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Detroit      41 14 8   234 187 90
 2. Chicago      34 17 9   201 153 77
 3. Columbus     31 25 6   167 173 68
 4. Nashville    31 28 4   159 172 66
 5. St. Louis    28 26 8   173 181 64
 NORTHWEST DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. Calgary      37 18 6   195 175 80
 2. Vancouver    31 22 8   183 174 70
 3. Edmonton     31 26 5   173 188 67
 4. Minnesota    30 26 5   155 144 65
 5. Colorado     28 34 1   169 200 57
 PACIFIC DIVISION

              W  L  OTL GF  GA  PTS
 1. San Jose     42 10 9   205 148 93
 2. Anaheim      31 28 5   180 188 67
 3. Dallas       29 25 7   178 187 65
 4. Los Angeles  26 26 9   158 175 61
 5. Phoenix      27 31 5   159 193 59