Montreal improved to 9-3-2 after returning home from an unbeaten four-game trip through the Western Conference. Chris Kreider recorded a goal and an assist, while Oliver Kapanen and Alexandre Texier also scored. Lane Hutson contributed two assists.

Jacob Fowler stopped 25 shots for the Canadiens. The rookie became the third Montreal rookie goaltender in the past 40 years to win seven consecutive games.

Anderson put Montreal ahead by two when he redirected the puck into the net with 6:54 remaining. Pittsburgh cut the deficit with 3:11 left, when Sidney Crosby scored with Sergei Murashov pulled for an extra attacker, but the Penguins could not find an equalizer.

Crosby finished with a goal and two assists. Erik Karlsson also had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, while Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell each registered a goal and an assist. Murashov made 22 saves.

Despite the loss, Crosby reached two career milestones. His 1,112th NHL assist moved him past Boston Bruins great Ray Bourque for the most assists with one franchise in league history. The 39-year-old center also reached 1,771 career points, tying Marcel Dionne for sixth place on the NHL scoring list.

Up next

The Penguins will host Vegas on Tuesday night. The Canadiens are also at home Tuesday, when they host Winnipeg.

Source: AP NHL coverage