PREDS’ ELLIS PLAYS HERO IN SHOOTOUT

MONTREAL» Ryan Ellis scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Canadiens on Saturday.

Scott Hartnell and Kevin Fiala scored in regulation for Nashville, and Pekka Rinne finished with 47 saves — including 10 in the 5-minute, 3-on-3 overtime.

Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin scored for the Canadiens, and Carey Price stopped 30 shots.

Fiala gave the Predators a 2-1 lead with his 18th with 7:41 left in the third period. After the Canadiens pulled Price for an extra skater, Drouin tied it with his eighth with 1:14 remaining.

The Bell Centre crowd reacted with some boos but mostly cheers each time Nashville’s P. K. Subban had the puck.

Subban remains highly popular in Montreal after his trade to the Predators two summers ago for Shea Weber, who has been out since mid-december with a foot injury.

Subban and Gallagher went hard at each other in the first period, and the Canadiens’ forward was shaken up while trying to lay a big hit on his former teammate.

Filip Forsberg returned after serving a three-game suspension for a high hit on Jimmy Vesey of the Rangers.

SATURDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS

Scott Wilson had a goal and an assist during Buffalo’s big second period, helping the Sabres cool off Tuukka Rask and the

Bruins with a 4-2 victory. … Andrei Vasilevskiy made 44 saves, Steven Stamkos had a goal and an assist, and the Lightning beat the Kings 4-3. … Mitch Marner had two goals and three assists, helping the Maple Leafs beat the

Senators 6-3. … Artemi Panarin and Oliver Bjorkstrand each had a goal and an assist, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 35 shots as the Blue Jackets beat the Devils 6-1 to snap a five-game losing streak. … Devan Dubnyk made a season-high 44 saves, Charlie Coyle scored twice and the Wild beat the Blackhawks 3-0. … Nolan Patrick scored the decider in a shootout to send the Flyers past the Coyotes 4-3.