TORONTO -- Center David Desharnais scored the decisive goal in a shootout and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Saturday night to clinch first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Canadiens entered the game needing only one point or a loss by the Tampa Bay Lightning to secure the division title.

Montreal scored twice in the shootout and Toronto failed to score on its two attempts.

Desharnais, center Tomas Plekanec and left winger Jacob De La Rose had goals in regulation for the Canadiens (50-22-10) who will move on to the playoffs next week.

Right winger Phil Kessel, center Casey Bailey and center Tyler Bozak scored for the Maple Leafs (30-44-8), who missed the playoffs for the second season in a row.

Carey Price made 19 stops in the Montreal goal to extend his club record for a goaltender to 44 wins for the season.

Jonathan Bernier stopped 29 shots in the Toronto goal.

The Canadiens tied the score for the third time of the game in the final seconds of the second period and thought they had taken the lead on a power play at 8:45 of the third, but the goal was disallowed because it was ruled that there was goalie interference. The score remained 3-3 at the end of regulation, and the point was all Montreal needed to finish first in the division.

During overtime, Montreal had to kill off a high-sticking penalty to defenseman P.K Subban. Canadiens center Lars Eller nearly scored a short-handed goal during the Toronto power play but had his shot on a breakaway nudge the post.

Each team scored a goal in the first 4:14 of the opening period.

Kessel put Toronto ahead at 3:58 of the first on a wraparound for his 25th goal of the season. Desharnais tied it 16 seconds later with his 14th goal of the season on a shot from the slot after a Maple Leafs turnover near the net.

Bailey put the Maple Leafs back in front with his first career NHL goal, a shot from the right faceoff circle at 14:04 of the first period. Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf picked up an assist, his 400th career point.

Bailey nearly added another goal four minutes later when he broke through the Montreal defense but could not beat Price.

The Habs tied the score at 2 after 59 seconds of the second period with Plekanec completing a three-way passing play with a shot from the right faceoff circle for his 26th goal of the season.

Bozak scored his 23rd goal of the season from the low slot at 5:11 to give the Leafs a 3-2 lead.

Montreal tied the score at 3 with 8.9 seconds left in the second period on the fourth goal of the season by De La Rose. It came after Bernier left the net to clear the puck and the ensuing turnover left De La Rose with an open goal.

NOTES: Canadiens LW Max Pacioretty (upper body) missed his second straight game on Saturday and coach Michel Therrien said it's "a possibility" that he could return next week when the playoffs begin. Pacioretty, who had 37 goals and 30 assists this season, hit his head while falling awkwardly into the boards last Sunday in the first period of a 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers. Pacioretty skated on Saturday and Therrien said it was "good news," but his status remained uncertain. ... Canadiens D Tom Gilbert (upper body) did not play Saturday after missing the win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. ... The Maple Leafs called up RW Colton Orr from the AHL Marlies for Saturday's game. ... C Leo Komarov (upper body) did not play for the Maple Leafs on Saturday after being injured Wednesday in the loss at Columbus.