Canadiens 4, Hurricanes 1: David Desharnais scored twice as visiting Montreal overcame an injury to leading goal-scorer Max Pacioretty to enter the Olympic break with its third win in a row and fifth in seven contests (5-1-1).

A member of the United States Olympic team, Pacioretty skated hard to the net before he was hit by Carolina defenseman Brett Bellemore in the first period. Pacioretty suffered back spasms after colliding with the left post and did not return but will travel to Sochi, Russia to represent Team USA.

Ryan White scored for the second straight contest and added an assist for the Canadiens, who claimed five of a possible six points against the Hurricanes this season. Captain Brian Gionta added an empty-net goal, Brendan Gallagher notched two assists and Carey Price turned aside 31 shots in the victory.

After Desharnais forged a tie with 2:08 left in the second period, White gave Montreal the lead just 85 seconds later. The 25-year-old was hit by defenseman Andrei Markov's shot from the point, but White alertly settled the puck and slid it past a prone Anton Khudobin for his second goal of the season. Desharnais gave the Canadiens a two-goal cushion 6:15 into the third as he settled Gallagher's saucer pass before wristing a shot past Khudobin for his 11th tally.

Fourth-liner Drayson Bowman scored and Khudobin finished with 20 saves for the Hurricanes, who fell for just the third time in nine contests.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Desharnais recorded his first two-goal performance since Montreal's 6-1 win over Buffalo on Feb. 2, 2013. ... Prior to Thursday, White scored his last goal on Jan. 27, 2013. ... Stationed along the edge of the faceoff circle near the right-wing boards, Bowman wired a shot through a maze of players and past Price to snap a scoreless tie 5:42 into the second period. Bowman's tally was his fourth of the season - and first since Dec. 27 versus Pittsburgh.