Detroit — Montreal was able to capitalize on a third-period power play Friday and the Red Wings did not, and that turned out to be the difference in a 4-3 Canadiens’ victory.

Patrik Laine’s power-play goal at 12 minutes, 2 seconds of the third period broke a 3-3 tie. Laine’s blast from the flank was his seventh goal in eight games since returning from a season-opening injury, breaking a stick out front and eluding goaltender Cam Talbot.

The Wings had a power play with just four minutes left in regulation time but failed to score for the fourth time in the game with the man advantage.

The loss dropped the Wings to 13-15-4 (30 points), while Montreal rose to 13-16-3 (29 points). The teams meet again Saturday in Montreal.

“We had chances but we didn’t keep enough (pucks) out, and they get the power play in the third and score and we get ours and we don’t,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “It would have been real nice to score on that one (late in the period) and tie the game up and get it into overtime and score another one.”

The Canadiens added a shorthanded goal earlier in the game, dominating the special teams part of this game.

BOX SCORE: Canadiens 4, Red Wings 3

“Huge part of it,” said coach Derek Lalonde of the importance Friday of special teams. “An 0-fer on the power play and they scored shorthanded, and they scored on the power play in the end. It was a huge part of the game, our inability to execute on special teams.

“We have to be better with the puck. The margin for error is not there. We can’t have lapses in our game and we have to be good on special teams and obviously tonight, we were not.”

Tyler Motte, on a nice set up from Michael Rasmussen, broke a 2-2 tie early in the third period. Rasmussen knocked the puck from Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson between the hashmarks, gathered the puck and found Motte driving to the net, who beat goaltender Sam Montembeault at 1:40.

But the Canadiens answered when Arber Xhekaj scored his first goal of the season, at 8:42, on a knuckler from the point after the puck got to him from the corner.

“A lot of it was breakdowns,” said Rasmussen of letting the third period lead disappears. “We weren’t on our heels like we had been in previous games maybe when we had the lead. We could have took better care of the puck. Just breakdowns.”

Patrick Kane scored for the second consecutive game, after enduring a 10-game drought. He opened the Wings’ scoring midway in the first period, tying the game 1-1, somehow finding a sliver of room above the right shoulder of Montembeault.

“He’s (Kane) been all over the puck,” Larkin said. “He’s elevated it and raised his compete and it’s great to see. He’s found a way to get himself out of it. I have to start to follow that lead and start playing with that jam that he’s been playing with and kind of force himself into the game and sticking with it.”

Montreal opened the game’s scoring on Emil Heineman’s seventh goal, at 7:09 of the first period. Heinemen’s drive from the dot off a rush may have nicked a stick and got through Talbot.

Playing in his first game in over a week, Talbot stopped 29-of-33 shots but didn’t look as sharp overall.

“He made some nice saves, controlled his rebounds well,” Lalonde said. “(But) with rhythm and him being comfortable, it probably eliminates two of those goals fairly easily. But coming off injury, it’s all part of it and there will be some rust.”

After Kane tied the game, Montreal answered with Jake Evans’ shorthanded goal. Evans capitalized on a misplay between Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, drove to the net, and scored his sixth goal at 18:31.

But the Wings were able to tie it just 32 seconds before the end of the period. Joe Veleno got a stick on Jeff Petry’s shot from the point, Veleno’s third goal, tying the game 2-2 heading into the second period.

“Forty minutes in we weren’t feeling it was our best but it was there for the taking,” Lalonde said. “We get that third goal and just kind of a mishap for the tying goal and special teams was the difference.”

The best part about this result for the Wings, was the ability to forget about it quickly and knowing they play Montreal again Saturday (7 p.m./FSDEXTRA/97.1).

“We get to see these guys again and a quick turnaround,” Larkin said. “We have to capitalize on our chances and play with a little more intensity and minimize our mistakes. The goals they scored, there were some key breakdowns.”

tkulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan

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