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.

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.

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. Motte 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.

There was a lively atmosphere from the start Friday, with numerous Canadiens jerseys in the crowd in a festive pre-holiday weekend, Original Six get-together.

"It's always neat, Montreal, the Original Six matchup and home and away," coach Derek Lalonde said after the morning skate. "For me personally, I grew up 90 minutes from my doorstep to Montreal. That logo is pretty cool.

"But for us, it's an opportunity to keep our game in order. Watching back (the) Buffalo (video, against Montreal), they were real good, and (Patrik) Laine coming in has balanced their lines. It's a pretty good team right now, and it's a real good challenge for us."

The Wings are getting energized offensively by Patrick Kane, who is beginning to awaken from a lengthy slump.

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.

"The last seven or eight games, I feel like there could have been some production," Kane said. "It's just sometimes it's kind of tough to break through. Once you do, you get that confidence and try to contain it and keep building off it."

"Since Copper (Andrew Copp) and (Alex) DeBrincat and myself have been a line, we've been able to control pucks and make some plays off the rush," Kane said. "I still think there's another level to our game. We're just trying to keep it all in and try to get hot here."

"It helps," Kane said. "That's supposed to be my role, to produce and create chances and make plays. When you're doing that and playing to your role, it picks everyone up."

"I was getting a lot of Patrick Kane questions the last couple of weeks because his numbers weren't there," Lalonde said. "But he was getting looks and had the puck on his stick. He went through a week stretch where he hit three, four or five posts and open nets that he usually buries.

"I thought it would come around (if) he had his (offensive) looks and it has. Goals energize the rest of our group. We've scored goals of late, of course from him, but I just think scoring period energizes our group."

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.

After Kane tied the game, Montreal answered with Jake Evans' short-handed 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.

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