Max Pacioretty recorded a goal and an assist while Brendan Gallagher also scored for the Canadiens, who began their five-game homestand by improving to 10-3-1 at Bell Centre. Carey Price made 15 saves, including five in the final session.

Derek Dorsett scored a short-handed goal for Vancouver, which concluded its 3-3-1 road trip with its third straight loss. Ryan Miller stopped 22 shots in a losing effort.

Plekanec scored his first goal in eight games, chipping a centering feed from Sven Andrighetto past Miller during a rush to break a 1-1 deadlock. Pacioretty sealed the win with an empty-netter with one second remaining.

Gallagher pulled the puck off the side boards and wristed a shot past Miller 6:56 into the second period to open the scoring. Dorsett replied five minutes later by one-timing a centering feed from Jannik Hansen by Price while Brad Richardson served a high-sticking penalty.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Canadiens held a touching tribute to the late Jean Beliveau prior to the start of the game. His jersey number was illuminated on an empty seat for the duration of the contest. … Andrighetto has recorded a goal and an assist in his first two NHL games. … Richardson saw his three-game point streak come to an end.