Dallas, TX (My Sportsbook) - Alex Kovalev's second-period goal proved to be the game-winner, as the Montreal Canadiens extended the Dallas Stars' home woes with a 3-1 victory at American Airlines Center.

Andrei Kostitsyn and Christopher Higgins also lit the lamp for the Canadiens, who have won five of their last seven games. Carey Price turned away 30 of the 31 shots he faced to snap a personal seven-game losing streak.

Marty Turco made just 16 saves for Dallas, which has dropped six in a row on home ice. Even though Loui Eriksson scored on the power play, the Stars were horrific with the man advantage, going 1-for-10.

"The difference is definitely I think we could've put the game away in the first (period) and we give the momentum back when they killed all those penalties," said Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas. "We didn't capitalize on our power play and I think that's it. When we have that many power plays, you can give momentum to your team or to the other team if they kill them and that's what happened."

An undisciplined and abrasive Canadiens squad was tagged for nine penalties in the first period, including a two-minute minor on Montreal captain Saku Koivu for slashing at the end of the frame that allowed Dallas to begin the second period on an extended two-man advantage.

Montreal, amazingly, survived its parade to the penalty box, allowing just a tally to Eriksson 4:52 into the contest.

"We came out with great energy and had a great start," said Dallas head coach Dave Tippett. "We pushed on the power play but didn't extend the lead. Our execution in the second was terrible; it sucked the life out of us."

The Habs toned down their antics and struck twice in the middle stanza to a take a 2-1 lead.

Kostitsyn scored at the five-minute mark, and Kovalev let fly a bullet from the left circle that beat Turco with 5:10 remaining, two seconds after Stars veteran forward Mike Modano exited the penalty box.

Montreal put the game away in the third period. Ryan O'Byrne rimmed the puck around the boards with such velocity that it eluded Turco, who had gone behind the net. Higgins gathered the puck along the left-wing boards and fired it into the yawning cage at the 5:27 mark.

Game Notes

Price's last triumph came on February 3 at home against the Penguins...Montreal finished 0-for-3 on the power play...The Stars are 17-13-4 as the host...Montreal is 15-18-3 on the road.