Terrible first period spells doom for Montreal

DEVILS 6, CANADIENS 4

For the Canadiens this season, it was an impressive streak: seven straight games picking up at least one point.

OK, four of those games were lost in overtime or a shootout, but in this season to nowhere, the 3-0-4 stretch was a bright spot for the Canadiens.

It came to a quick end Tuesday in New Jersey when the Devils took a 4-0 lead in the first period en route to a 6-4 victory, dropping the Canadiens’ record to 25-3011, including a dismal 9-20-3 on the road.

Thankfully there are only 16 games left in this season of suffering for the Canadiens and their fans, including nine on the road.

Travis Zajac scored twice for the Devils, who ended a three-game losing streak, with Stefan Noesen, Blake Coleman, Patrick Maroon and Brian Boyle adding singles. Three of the Devils’ goals came on the power play.

Jacob de la Rose scored twice for the Canadiens, giving him three on the season, while Brendan Gallagher tied a career high with his 24th goal and Byron Froese scored his third of the season with 59 seconds left in the game.

With Canadiens goalie Antti Niemi sidelined with a lower-body injury, Rookie Charlie Lindgren got the start. He played the full 60 minutes, facing 33 shots, while the Canadiens also fired 33 shots at Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid.

Hall keeps streak alive: The Devils’ Taylor Hall picked up two assists, extending his point streak to 26 games, during which he has 18 goals and 20 assists 38. Hall leads the Devils with 74 points.

What’s next?: The Canadiens catch a flight to Florida, where they will play the Panthers Thursday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690).