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Lehkonen ends drought with two goals as Canadiens top Senators 4-1

Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates with teammates right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) and left wing Max Pacioretty (67) after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Sunday, February 4, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Artturi Lehkonen broke out of a 24-game scoring slump with a pair of goals as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Lehkonen had not scored since he had two goals on Oct. 30 in an 8-3 win over the Senators in Ottawa.

Jeff Petry, with his third goal in two games, and Tomas Plekanec also scored for the Canadiens (22-25-6), who were coming off a 5-2 win over Anaheim on Saturday.

READ MORE: Defenceman Petry scores twice as Habs snap slide with 5-2 win over Ducks

Mike Hoffman scored for the Senators (17-25-9), who had won their previous two games, including a 4-3 shootout victory Saturday in Philadelphia.

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Montreal outshot Ottawa 35-26.

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After a listless opening period for both teams, Hoffman opened the scoring 2:05 into the second when he picked off a soft David Schlemko pass at the Montreal blue line and beat Carey Price with a wrist shot from the slot.

READ MORE: Brian Wilde remembers Habs’ legendary beat writer Red Fisher

The Canadiens scored twice after Mark Borowiecki was sent off for hooking, followed 34 seconds later by a double high sticking call on Erik Karlsson.

Petry scored on a blast from the right circle at 6:16. Lehkonen took a Nikita Scherbak pass and lifted the puck over Mike Condon at the side of the net at 7:54.

Plekanec, for his 600th career point, made a back pass to a wide open Lehkonen for a goal into an open net at 18:42. With 3:03 left in the game, Thomas Chabot had a pass attempt slide off the heel of his stick and go right to Plekanec alone in from of Condon for an easy goal.

Plekanec is the 13th Canadien to reach 600 points.

READ MORE: Canadiens Drouin leaves game after being hit in upper body by Alzner shot

Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin, who left the game Saturday for x-rays after being hit in the upper body by a shot, was back in the lineup.

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The Canadiens have been playing two afternoon games on Super Bowl weekend since 1990-91, compiling a 29-19-6 record.

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