MONTREAL -- Carey Price shared his key for success.

"Rest is a weapon," the Montreal goalie said.

Price made 33 saves in his return from injury to help the Canadiens beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 on Thursday night.

Price picked up his second shutout of the season and 42nd overall in his first appearance after missing three games because of a lower-body injury. Jordie Benn and Jonathan Drouin scored for Montreal.

"Those glove saves, they make me giggle on the bench that's for sure," Benn said. "He was solid."

Canucks rookie Elias Pettersson left because of a lower-body injury in the second period. Named to the All-Star Games on Wednesday, Pettersson was injured after getting tangled with fellow rookie and Habs forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Pettersson's right knee was caught between Kotkaniemi's legs as they both fell to the ice. The Swede stayed down on the ice before getting to his feet and going to the dressing room.

I've watched it a lot of times," Vancouver coach Travis Green said. "It's not a dirty play by their player at all. (Pettersson) gets hooked a little bit. Petey pushes back on him and leans back. Probably tries to give him a bit of a reverse hit and two young guys fall to the ice. It's not a penalty."

Joel Armia also returned to the Canadiens after missing 25 games because of a knee injury. The Finn had an assist.

Benn opened the scoring with his third goal of the season at 11:50 of the first. Minutes after Pettersson's injury, Drouin burst up the wing for his 13th of the season.

Vancouver's Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves.

"(Price) had a real good game tonight," Markstrom said. "They took advantage of their scoring chances they got and got two past me. It's a tough loss,"

UP NEXT

Canucks: At Toronto on Saturday night.

Canadiens: Host Nashville on Saturday night.

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