Plekanec's 2 goals, Vanek's goal and 2 assists lead Canadiens to 5-4 win over Red Wings

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) receives help stopping a shot from teammate David Desharnais (51) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) (The Associated Press)

Montreal Canadiens' Thomas Vanek (20) of Austria, and teammate Francis Bouillon, left, celebrate a goal by David Desharnais during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings Thursday, March 27, 2014, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) (The Associated Press)

Max Pacioretty broke a third period tie, Tomas Plekanec scored twice and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 Thursday night.

Tomas Vanek added a goal and two assists and David Desharnais had a goal and an assist for Montreal. P.K. Subban had two assists and Carey Price made 23 saves.

Tomas Tatar scored two goals for Detroit, Riley Sheahan a goal and an assist, and Johan Franzen also scored. Jimmy Howard stopped 19 shots.

Pacioretty gave Montreal a 4-3 lead with a shot from the right circle that deflected off Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall for Pacioretty's 33rd goal. The play appeared to be offside.

Vanek got his 26th goal with 8:45 left on a tip in to make it 5-3.

Franzen brought the Red Wings to within 5-4 21 seconds later. Franzen's 16th goal broke a nine-game goal-scoring drought.

Tatar scored twice over 3:06 early in the third period to tie the game at 3.

He brought Detroit to within 3-2 with a wrist shot from the high slot 1:24 into the third after intercepting Subban's pass. Tatar tied it at 4:30 on a shot from the bottom of the right circle for his 18th goal.

Sheahan put the Red Wings on the board and cut the Canadiens lead to 2-1, 1:28 into the second period with his sixth goal.

But Desharnais restored Montreal's two-goal lead with 8:57 remaining in the middle period. It was his 14th goal.

Plekanec's two goals gave Montreal a 2-0 lead in the first period.

He opened the scoring 7:49 into the game, then got his 20th goal with 5:49 left in the opening period.

NOTE: Detroit RW Tomas Jurco returned after missing seven games with a broken rib. . Montreal LW Travis Moen missed his second game with a concussion. . Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk, who has missed 13 games with a sore knee, is skating but there's no timetable for his return. . Detroit C Henrik Zetterberg, who had back surgery on Feb. 21, won't be cleared for contact until April 18-19. . Pacioretty played college hockey at the University of Michigan. ... Montreal D Mike Weaver played college hockey at Michigan State. ... Canadiens' RW Dale Weise missed his second game with an upper-body injury.