Canadiens 7, Senators 4: Max Pacioretty recorded his third hat trick of the season and added two assists as visiting Montreal scored seven consecutive goals to stun Ottawa.

Defenseman Mike Weaver netted his first goal in 79 games and added an assist for the Canadiens, who have won nine of their last 11 to move two points ahead of idle Tampa Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division. David Desharnais scored and set up a goal and defenseman Andrei Markov and Lars Eller also tallied to give Peter Budaj (39 saves) plenty of offensive support.

Zack Smith scored twice and Ales Hemsky and Mika Zibanejad also tallied for the Senators, who have dropped two straight to remain seven points behind Columbus for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Eller capitalized on a mistake from Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba and beat Craig Anderson (seven goals, 23 shots) from the doorstep to give Montreal a 4-3 lead at 4:09 of the second period. Pacioretty converted his second breakaway at 15:25 before one-timing a shot from the slot at 1:09 of the third to complete his fourth career hat trick with his team-leading 38th goal.

The Senators jumped out of the blocks in a hurry as Smith scored twice in a span of 3:22 to give his team a 3-0 lead just 5:50 into the contest. Montreal chipped away as Markov banked a shot from below the goal line off Anderson at 7:22 and Weaver converted from the point two minutes later. Pacioretty tucked the puck between the pads of Anderson at 15:52 to forge a 3-3 tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Montreal D P.K. Subban recorded a minus-2 rating after just two shifts that lasted a total of 37 seconds. The reigning Norris Trophy winner was kept on the bench for the rest of the first period. ... Ottawa captain Jason Spezza returned after a two-game absence due to a groin injury. ... Montreal D Douglas Murray sat out the first contest of his three-game suspension for his hit to the head of Tampa Bay D Mike Kostka.