MONTREAL — Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta scored in the shootout, and the Montreal Canadiens snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Tuesday night.
Gionta, who scored late in the first period, sealed the win with a backhander past Ondrej Pavelec on Montreal's third attempt of the shootout. Gomez had put a shot from the slot past the Atlanta goalie's glove into the right side of the net.
Jaroslav Halak stopped Ilya Kovalchuk and Rich Peverley on the Thrashers' first two attempts.
The Canadiens (3-5) avoided their worst start in nearly 70 years. Montreal was 1-10-1 in the 1940-41 season.
Colby Armstrong brought Atlanta into a 1-1 tie at 6:06 of the third with his first goal.