Canadiens 2, Sabres 0: Carey Price turned aside 24 shots to register his 24th career shutout and lead host Montreal to its third straight win.

Max Pacioretty scored his 100th career goal to break a scoreless deadlock midway through the third period and Daniel Briere added an insurance tally with 3:06 to play as the Canadiens completed a four-game season series sweep of Buffalo. Price notched his fifth shutout of the season to help Montreal move two points ahead of Tampa Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division, although the Lightning have two games in hand..

Rookie Matt Hackett, making his second career start, made 33 saves as Buffalo lost for the ninth time in 10 games. The Sabres managed only three goals in the four games against the Canadiens.

Montreal finally ended the scoreless duel when Thomas Vanek sent a crossing pass from the top of the right circle to a cutting Pacioretty, who steered it into the net for his 32nd goal.

The Canadiens were stymied on their first five power-play opportunities but cashed in on their sixth chance when Briere corralled a loose puck below the left faceoff and beat Hackett for his 13th goal

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pacioretty's second goal in three games left him one shy of his career-high total set in 2011-12. ... Sabres F Ville Leino, who was benched for the previous two contests, returned to the lineup but remained goalless in 51 games. ... The Sabres were limited to fewer than three goals for the 10th time in 12 games this month.