Canadiens 4, Panthers 1: Max Pacioretty scored twice to establish a career-best goal total and added an assist as visiting Montreal extended its winning streak to a season high-tying five games.

Thomas Vanek scored and set up Pacioretty's first tally while David Desharnais matched his linemate with a goal and an assist as the Canadiens improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine contests to maintain their hold on second place in the Atlantic Division. Carey Price made 36 saves to win his fourth consecutive start.

Brad Boyes scored the lone goal for Florida, which lost for the fifth time in six games (1-5-0) and has scored only six goals in that span. Dan Ellis turned aside 15 shots in dropping his fourth start in a row.

Vanek opened the scoring midway through the first period, as his initial shot trickled between the pads of Ellis before he drove the net to push home the puck for his sixth tally in seven games. Pacioretty made it 2-0 just over six minutes later when, while stationed at the right post, he steered in a perfect crossing pass from defenseman Alexei Emelin at 17:03.

Vanek did most of the leg work on Montreal's third goal by drawing two defenders before centering a pass to Desharnais, who delivered a perfect feed that Pacioretty buried from the left of the net 14 minutes into the second for his 35th goal - and fifth in five games. Boyes answered two minutes later with a perfect wrister over the shoulder of Price with 3:51 remaining in the session.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pacioretty, whose previous career high was 33 goals in 2011-12, became the fourth Montreal player since 1995-1996 to score 35 in a season. ... Boyes ended a seven-game goalless drought and needs one more tally to reach 20 for the fourth time in his career. ... Desharnais had an empty-net tally to give him four goals and eight assists in his last 11 games.