MONTREAL (AP) – Canadiens coach Claude Julien said it looked like Tomas Plekanec had "drunk at the fountain of youth" before playing his 1,000th game Monday night.

Plekanec scored in the match, and Jonathan Drouin added two goals to lead Montreal to a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, with no win.

Julien was also behind the bench for Plekanec's first-ever NHL game in 2003.

"He skated really well, he had a lot of energy," said Julien, who also coached Plekanec in his first NHL game in 2003. "We could see that he was excited to argue his 1000th game and that he wanted it to be a good memory for him … I had the chance to train him in his first year and I have the chance to get a good shot. still be at his side for his 1,000th game, which is a privilege. "

Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, Charles Hudon and Paul Byron also scored for the Canadiens. While Carey Price is still suffering from the flu, substitute goalkeeper Antti Niemi stopped 25 shots for his second consecutive victory.

Plekanec, 35, became the 324th player in NHL history and the 13th active NHL player to reach the 1,000-game plateau. The Czech is the 12th Canadian player to reach this milestone, joining an elite group consisting of Jean Béliveau, Henri Richard and Larry Robinson.

The crowd showed its appreciation by a standing ovation from the first period.

"It was special," said Plekanec about the ovation. "I have been here for so long and I know the crowd is amazing here and I love playing here at the Bell Center." They showed it again tonight.

"It was great of course, it feels good, I would never have dreamed of something like that when I started here, it was a driving hell."

Plekanec became the fourth Canadian player to score in his 1,000th game.

Andreas Athanasiou scored two goals and Thomas Vanek also scored for the reigning Wings, who have not won any of the six games (0-4-2) for their worst start in the history of the franchise . Jimmy Howard conceded five goals on 20 shots before being replaced by Jonathan Bernier in the second period. Bernier finished with 13 saves.

The Red Wings, who had just lost 8-2 against Boston, now have 29 worst goals in the NHL in six games.

"We can not collapse like this and start running without a head," said Detroit veteran Niklas Kronwall. "We have to show some pride, enough is too much, we do not even give ourselves a chance at the moment."

After Drouin opened the scoring for Montreal on a penalty shot at 7:13 of the first goal, Plekanec made it 2-0 by shooting a puck to the goal that allowed Filip Hronek to deflect his goal at 16:56.

It was Plekanec's 233rd goal in the NHL, all with the Canadiens.

"We won this game for him," said Canadian forward Max Domi. "We have so much respect for Pleky as a player and as a person – we are all so happy for him – he deserves all the credit he deserves – it's cool to be part of this team. Hopefully he's playing 1,000 more. "

Gallagher got his third game of the season at 3:52 of the second on a nice pass from Tatar. Hudon did it 5-1 less than a minute later.

Drouin, on the power play, scored his second goal of the game with just over 4 minutes to go during the period as he shoveled a loose puck past Bernier.

Athanasiou brought the Red Wings to 6-2 at 7:30 and Vanek surprised Niemi who had gone around around 10:11 for his first point of the season.

Byron added the seventh goal of the game in Montreal with 1:49 to go.

NOTES: Like Price, Andrew Shaw was put away with the flu. … Montreal has won six straight games against Detroit since March 2017.

FOLLOWING

Red Wings: Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

Canadians: Welcome St. Louis Wednesday night.

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