Canadiens 2, Sharks 0: Carey Price turned aside 29 shots for his second straight shutout and career-high ninth of the season as Montreal posted its fourth win in five games.

Tomas Plekanec scored a goal and set up Brendan Gallagher's empty-netter, giving him seven points in his last five contests as the Canadiens snapped their four-game losing streak against the Sharks. Price posted his 34th career shutout to tie Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury for the league lead while registering his NHL-high 40th victory of the campaign for Montreal, which increased its lead over Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division to four points and pulled even with Anaheim in the race for the Presidents' Trophy.

Antti Niemi made 27 saves for San Jose, which fell six points behind Calgary for third place in the Pacific Division while dropping to 1-2-0 on its seven-game road trip. The Sharks, who went 0-for-2 on the power play, registered 21 shots over the final two periods but could not get one past Price.

Plekanec opened the scoring from below the left faceoff circle with 1:14 left in the first period, knocking home a cross-ice backhand pass from Alex Galchenyuk. Price allowed the Canadiens to keep the lead through 40 minutes by making a big stop on Logan Couture, who zipped alone up the slot during an early second-period power play.

Price made a stop on Couture in front and later on defenseman Brent Burns’ slap shot through a screen from the right point during a man advantage with less than 10 minutes left. Burns hit the crossbar from the left circle with just under two minutes remaining and Price made one more big save on Couture at the left post before Gallagher sealed the win with 13.1 seconds to go.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Montreal D Tom Gilbert was helped to the locker room after taking a puck to the face late in the second period and did not return. … Couture registered a team-high six shots on goal for San Jose and Burns finished with five. … Plekanec’s first-period tally snapped a three-game goalless drought for the Canadiens against San Jose. … Montreal C Brian Flynn missed his third straight game due to an upper-body injury.