The Canadiens were outshot 52-27 by the Maple Leafs on Saturday night but Carey Price's stellar goaltending and three special teams goals lifted Montreal to a 5-3 victory that extended its season-opening winning streak to nine games.

The Canadiens are a victory away from tying the NHL record set by the Maple Leafs in 1993-94 and matched by Buffalo in 2006-07. Their next game is Tuesday at Vancouver.

"You have to give (the Leafs) credit, they came out hard," defenseman P.K. Subban said.

Andrei Markov crossed the 500-point mark with a career-best five points, and the Canadiens beat the Sabres 7-2 on Friday night to run their season-opening winning streak to eight games.

"Maybe, I just got lucky today," Markov said after finishing with a goal and four assists. "It's great to have eight wins, but tomorrow is another challenge."

The Canadiens are the second team in NHL history to begin a season with eight straight wins, all in regulation, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Sabres did it in 1975-76.

Montreal is two victories away from matching the NHL record set by the Maple Leafs in 1993-94 and matched by the Sabres in 2006-07