Canadiens edge Senators, get first win for new coach

MONTREAL --The Montreal Canadiens got their first win under coach Dominique Ducharme with a 3-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators at Bell Centre on Tuesday.

Brendan Gallagher and Jeff Petry scored power-play goals 2:04 apart in the second period, and Carey Price made 26 saves for Montreal (10-6-5), which had lost five straight (0-2-3) and is 1-1-1 since Ducharme replaced Claude Julien on Feb. 24.
"We're happy, obviously, not satisfied," Price said. "Definitely very happy for coach and [new assistant Alexandre Burrows]. You know, they've both been working really hard and I'm sure that they're pretty happy tonight and proud."
Canadiens captain Shea Weber presented the game puck to Ducharme after forward Jonathan Drouin, who was coached by Ducharme when he played for Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, picked it up off the ice before heading to the locker room.
"I don't know what I'm going to do with the puck, but one thing, it's going to have a special place for me," Ducharme said. "I mean to be having my first NHL win is special, and to have it with this team, with the Canadiens, is special for me, so it's going to have a special place.
"For [Drouin], he came in when he was only 16, it's like 10 years ago. And we've gone a long way together. We've won together in juniors (Memorial Cup champions in 2013), we've worked together since I'm here. I think there's respect on both sides. I didn't know he did that but it's a great gesture."

Drake Batherson had an assist but his six-game goal streak ended for Ottawa (8-16-1), which defeated the Calgary Flames 5-1 on Monday. Joey Daccord made 30 saves in his first start of the season.
"I thought we did a good job getting pucks on net, getting guys there, but some of the best goalies in the League can win a game for their team," Senators forward Brady Tkachuk said. "So be it. We live and we learn."
Gallagher gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 9:26 of the second. After he scored from the slot he was hit with a high stick by Senators defenseman Erik Gudbranson, which resulted in a double minor, and on the power play Petry made it 2-0 with a slap shot from the top of the right face-off circle at 11:30.
It was the first time Montreal scored two power-play goals in a game since Jan. 28.
"The guys played very well in front of me. That's the style that we want to have," Price said. "We didn't try and rope-a-dope it, we were aggressive and played well in all three zones."
Artem Zub cut it to 2-1 at 18:29 of the second on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle. With the primary assist, Batherson extended his point streak to seven games (seven goals, four assists).
"He's dangerous every time he's out there," Senators coach D.J. Smith said of Batherson. "He's making plays, he's getting better defensively, he's blocking shots. He's turning into a really good NHL player and one that I believe is going to be a good player for a long time for this team."
Tyler Toffoli scored his 13th goal into an empty net at 19:39 for the 3-1 final.
NOTES: Senators forward Derek Stepan will not return this season. He will have surgery later this week to repair a damaged labrum that occurred when his left shoulder was dislocated in a 5-4 shootout win against the Canadiens on Feb. 23. … Daccord was making his first NHL start since his debut on April 4, 2019, when he made 35 saves in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Filip Gustavsson was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League and was his backup with Matt Murray scratched for rest. … Montreal forward Josh Anderson skated alone prior to morning skate but missed his second straight game because of a lower-body injury. … The Canadiens fired goaltending coach Stephane Waite and replaced him with Sean Burke, who was named director of goaltending.