In Newark, the visiting Montreal Canadiens carried a 2-0 lead over the Devils into the third period on Wednesday night, and then watched as New Jersey hit for a pair of power play goals in the first 98 seconds of the third period for a 2-2 tie. 
Cole Caufield rallied the Habs back from the sag in the early minutes of the third with a strike at 15:29 of the period to give the Habs a 3-2 lead they protected for the win.
New Jersey started the rally on a goal from Luke Hughes with 47 seconds gone int the third on a power play strike to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Alexander Holtz knotted the game, 2-2, at 1:38 off the second power play.
“[New Jersey] had momentum, the crowd got behind them, but we took it upon ourselves to make a push, and we did,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “We had numerous shifts in a row in their zone and put pressure, made plays and got chances. We’re able to fight back and get the third goal, got some good defensive plays and [Montembeault] was good. It’s a big win.”
Sam Montembeault made 28 saves in the win.
“I was very proud of the guys,” Montembeault said. “They didn’t put their heads down when the game was tied, and they kept working.”
The Canadiens improved to 19-18-7 off their second straight win.
New Jersey dropped to 22-17-3 off their fourth loss in five games.
“We had a little breakdown on the last goal … all we had to do was box out,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “Our goalie made the save (on the initial shot by Monahan). We just have to box out. It stings and stings even worse when there’s five minutes left.”
The Canadiens took a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza on a marker from Juraj Slafkovsky at 12:48.
“It’s pretty nice to play with [Caufield],” Slafkovsky said. “He’s a special player and he can make plays like these. I’m just happy that I was in the right spot at the right time. It was kind of bouncing and I whacked it in.”
In the Middle frame, Montreal’s Joshua Roy pushed the lead to 2-0 at 14:45.
For Roy, it was his first career NHL goal.
“He’s shown poise and confidence,” Caufield said of Roy. “He’s been good in the defensive zone and obviously he’s a special, gifted player offensively. I know there’s many more to come.”
Timo Meier returned to the New Jersey bench on Wednesday after being sidelined by an injury.
“It’s frustrating, but what can you do?” Meier said. “You just got to keep going and stick with it, and if you do that it’s going to come. We battled back and we shot ourselves in the foot by allowing a goal with about five minutes left.”
Nico Daws made 22 saves in the loss.
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