Price makes 34 saves in 700th game, Canadiens hold off Jets

WINNIPEG --Carey Price made 34 saves in his 700th NHL game, and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 at Bell MTS Place on Monday.

"What a milestone for him tonight to get that win," Canadiens forward Josh Anderson said. "Carey, he stood in there all night for us and played absolutely amazing."
Tyler Toffoli had two goals and an assist, and Anderson had a goal and an assist for Montreal (13-8-7), which had lost two straight.
"When [Price] gets feeling good, it's like nothing is going by him," Canadiens defenseman Brett Kulak said. "He's a leader on our team and kind of sets the tone. … He kind of boosts the morale for the whole team. When you see him come to play like that, it makes you want to elevate your game."

Kyle Connor scored two power-play goals, and Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves for Winnipeg (17-9-2).
"Power plays, we've been moving it pretty well. You definitely can't rely on that for offense," Connor said. "I think what [Montreal is] good at is transition. They've got a lot of quick forwards and [defensemen] that like to pound the puck. They've got some heavy shots back there and they're definitely a shot-volume team. … I think they like to funnel everything at the net and they've got a lot of quick guys that, if you're not smart with it through the neutral zone, they can make you pay."
Jesperi Kotkaniemi gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 4:01 of the first period, finishing a 3-on-1 following a turnover by Jets forward Andrew Copp.

Anderson made it 2-0 at 5:33 of the second period when he shot off Hellebuyck from below the right face-off circle on the power play.
"I thought we competed tonight," Anderson said. "A full effort from everybody was there tonight, and it was a huge two points. We needed that to get back on track, and we've just got to follow up next game."
Connor cut it to 2-1 at 8:08 with a wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
After Hellebuyck stopped Brendan Gallagher on a penalty shot at 12:11 to keep it a one-goal game, Toffoli intercepted a clearing attempt by Neal Pionk and scored on a 3-on-0 at 19:13 to extend the lead to 3-1.
"I mean, it jumps over the stick and goes towards our zone, and Pionk is trying to get that puck out," Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. "You know, he's got three guys on him and ends up falling down though. I mean, [stuff] happens."
Connor scored his second with a one-timer from the right circle to make it 3-2 at 5:47 of the third period, but Toffoli shot into an empty net at 19:12 for the 4-2 final.

The teams will complete a two-game set here Wednesday.
"You play the same team that many times in a short span, the physicality, it gets harder and harder and more and more physical," Ehlers said. "Every team in the division right now is fighting for a Stanley Cup [Playoff] spot. You want to get into that playoff-style of hockey as quick as possible so you're ready for that once you're in."
NOTES:Price is the 29th goalie in NHL history to play at least 700 games. … Toffoli's three-point game was his fourth of the season and first against a team other than the Vancouver Canucks. … Jets forward Mark Scheifele has nine points (one goal, eight assists) in his past seven games.