Devils create space in race

MONTREAL — Taylor Hall couldn’t have picked a better time to get his first career short-handed goal.

Hall scored on a breakaway late in the third period to lift the Devils to a 2-1 victory over the Canadiens on Sunday night.

The 26-year-old forward came out of the penalty box after serving a penalty for too many men — in which Montreal had a five-on-three advantage for 51 seconds — took a a pass from Travis Zajac and beat Carey Price on the blocker side with 4:07 remaining. “I’m not much of a short-handed threat but it’s nice to get one there,” said Hall, who extended his point streak to eight games. “Two minutes feeling shame and trying to think about what you’re going to do when you get out, and then you get a breakaway chance like that after a great kill by our guys.”

The goal was Hall’s fourth in his last three games and 37th this season, giving him career highs in goals and points (89).

“You’re always thinking this is the time I’m going to get a breakaway out of the box,” Hall said. “Usually you go in for a defensive-zone shift and you’re hemmed in for a while. Just a great kill by our five-on-three group.”

Nico Hischier tied the score early in the third and Keith Kinkaid stopped 25 shots in his sixth consecutive start for the Devils. New Jersey increased its lead to seven points over Florida for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.