Canadiens 3, Sabres 1: David Desharnais had a goal and an assist to power visiting Montreal to its fourth consecutive victory.

Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher also scored while defenseman Andrei Markov collected three assists as the Canadiens improved to 6-1-1 over their last eight games. Carey Price made 24 saves to win his third straight start.

Matt Moulson scored the only goal for offensively challenged Buffalo, which tumbled to its fifth straight defeat and has scored only six goals during the skid. Ryan Miller turned aside 28 shots in falling to 4-15-0 on the season.

The Canadiens struck first with 2:39 remaining in the opening period, when Markov took a drop pass from Lars Eller and unleashed a shot that clipped Galchenyuk on its way into the net. Montreal doubled the lead during a power play with just over six minutes left in the second as Desharnais deflected defenseman P.K. Subban's one-timer past Miller.

Moulson halted an 11-game goal-scoring drought just under four minutes later thanks to the hard work of Drew Stafford, who squashed Subban in the left corner and set up Moulson alone in front for his ninth of the season. It remained a one-goal edge until Gallagher struck on the power play with 1:44 left in the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Former Sabres coach and current Canadiens assistant GM Rick Dudley, considered the leading candidate for the vacant GM post in Buffalo, signed a contract extension with Montreal on Wednesday. ... The Sabres claimed F Matt D'Agostini off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins and waived F Corey Tropp. ... Galchenyuk scored for the fourth time in eight games after tallying only once in his previous 13 contests.