Canadiens 2, Bruins 1: Michael Ryder burned his former team with a power-play goal early in the second period and Carey Price turned aside 26 shots as host Montreal edged Boston to extend its lead in the Northeast Division to three points.

Rookie Alex Galchenyuk scored for the second straight contest and defenseman P.K. Subban recorded his second consecutive two-assist performance for the Canadiens, who have won five of six overall and four straight at home.

Daniel Paille scored and Tuukka Rask finished with 27 saves for the Bruins, who failed to register a shot on goal during a 6-on-4 advantage in the final 57 seconds of the contest.

Galchenyuk opened the scoring 6:49 into the first period after he banked a sharp-angle shot off defenseman Matt Bartkowski and into the net. Montreal doubled the advantage 57 seconds into the second after Ryder redirected Subban's shot from the point past Rask for his 10th goal in 12 games.

Paille trimmed the deficit just over six minutes later after his deflection of defenseman Johnny Boychuk's shot floated past Price. Boston was unable to solve Price again and dropped its third straight decision to Montreal.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Montreal C Tomas Plekanec returned after being sidelined for one game with a groin injury. He picked up the secondary assist on Ryder's goal. ... Rask fell to 2-8-2 in his career versus the Canadiens. ... Montreal D Alexei Emelin exited the contest in the first period after he delivered a crushing open-ice hit on Boston LW Milan Lucic. Emelin suffered a lower-body injury in the exchange.