Canadiens deal Coyotes their ninth shutout loss

Published Mar. 7, 2015 10:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carey Price made 29 saves for his seventh shutout, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the slumping Arizona Coyotes 2-0 on Saturday night.

Lars Eller and Brendan Gallagher scored for the Eastern Conference-leading Canadiens, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Montreal scored six goals during its four-game road trip, three coming Thursday at Los Angeles.

Mike Smith made 33 saves for the Coyotes, who have lost 10 of 11 and 12 of 14.

Arizona was shut out for the ninth time this season, one fewer than Buffalo's NHL-worst 10.

The Canadiens broke the scoreless deadlock at 4:48 of the second period. Devante Smith-Pelly skated down the right side to the back line and backhanded a pass to Eller in the right circle. Eller spun toward the net and beat goalie Mike Smith for his 10th goal.

Gallagher added an empty-net goal with 1.5 seconds left.

That was more than enough for Price, who was rarely tested over the first two periods en route to his 32nd NHL shutout and second in four starts.

Arizona managed only five shots in the first period and 13 through 40 minutes.

Price's most difficult save came 2:35 into the third period when he dropped into the splits to make a point-blank pad stop on David Moss. The puck ended up on top of Price's right pad, where he covered it with his glove before being pushed into the net.

NOTES: Price is 7-0 against the Coyotes. ... Price has allowed two goals or fewer in a league-high 24 games this season. ... Smith has won consecutive games only once this season. ... Eller's goal was his first since Feb. 7, a span of 15 games. ... Coyotes captain Shane Doan played in his 1,379th game, moving him into 39th place on the NHL career list. ... Arizona has won only seven of 28 games since Jan. 1.