Carey Price made 32 saves as the Montreal Canadiens upset the Southeast Division-leading Washington Capitals 3-2.

Goals from Travis Moen Tomas Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri put the Canadiens 3-1 ahead, before Brendan Morrison pulled one back with two minutes 32 seconds to play.

Hopes of a rally were all but ended when Maxim Lapierre was whistled 40 seconds later and Montreal held on.

Owen Nolan scored twice as the Minnesota Wild beat fellow strugglers the New York Islanders 3-2.

Dany Heatley scored three as the San Jose Sharks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-3.

It was also a good evening for Joe Thornton who notched up his 600th NHL assist.

Patrice Bergeron's overtime goal gave the Boston Bruins a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres and it was the same story in Detroit where Bryan McCabe's goal in OT meant the Florida Panthers beat the Red Wings by the same scorline.

The Vancouver Canucks rallied from 2-1 down in the third period to beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2.