Sabres 3, Canadiens 2: Former Montreal captain Brian Gionta capped a three-goal first period and visiting Buffalo held on to snap its franchise-record 14-game losing streak.

Drew Stafford and Matt Moulson each added a tally as the Sabres also halted a 14-game road skid with their first win away from home since topping the Canadiens in a shootout on Nov. 29. Jhonas Enroth survived a third-period onslaught and finished with 32 saves as league-worst Buffalo beat Montreal for the third straight time.

David Desharnais scored one goal and set up Brandon Prust's tally for the Canadiens, who dropped their second in a row following five straight victories. All-Star Carey Price, who was coming off back-to-back shutouts, turned aside 15 shots in having his five-start winning streak snapped.

After Stafford knocked home his own rebound in front at 5:21 of the opening period, Montreal answered less than three minutes later as Prust finished a 2-on-1 rush with Desharnais, wristing a shot from the left faceoff circle past Enroth. Moulson reclaimed the lead for Buffalo at 14:53, gaining control of a loose puck in the slot before spinning and beating Price between the pads.

Gionta burned his former team with 41 seconds left in the session to double the lead, throwing a pass in front from the left side that caromed off the skate of Canadiens defenseman Nathan Beaulieu. The Canadiens got within one at 4:20 of the third, when the rebound of Enroth's save on Dale Weise's redirection bounced off Desharnais and into the net, but they were unable to get the equalizer despite pouring 15 shots on net in the period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Moulson ended his 16-game goalless drought while Gionta netted his first tally since Dec. 13. ... Desharnais has recorded six goals and 10 assists in 22 games versus Buffalo. ... The Sabres, who lost each of their previous 14 in regulation, came within three losses of tying Washington (1974-75) and San Jose (1992-93) for the longest losing streak in league history.