MONTREAL - The Hamburgler's streak goes on.

Andrew Hammond, the career minor leaguer who has been a sensation in goal for Ottawa in the last month, made 27 saves as the Senators downed the NHL Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Thursday night.

Erik Karlsson scored twice as Ottawa pounded five goals on 28 shots behind the league's leading goalie Carey Price, who had a rare off-night.

Eric Condra, Mark Stone and Marc Methot also scored for Ottawa (31-24-11), which has won nine-of-11 games to keep it's playoff hopes alive.

Hammond, known as the Hamburgler, improved to 8-0-1 since he was called up from AHL Binghamton to replace Robin Lehner, who has a concussion, in February. The Surrey, B.C., native has yet to allow more than two goals in a game.

"It's something I'm aware of," Hammond said of his streak. "But I know that if I don't prepare the right way each game things will unravel, so I just put my best foot forward and whatever's going to happen will happen. I can't control that."

It looked grim early as Max Pacioretty scored twice in a 2:11 span of the first period, once on a power play and once short-handed, to give Montreal (42-19-7) the lead.

But the Senators tied it in the second and got three past Price in the third.

"It was tough to stake them to a two-goal lead," said Hammond. "It would have been easy to fold the tent but we showed a lot of fight and eventually we were able to turn the tide.

"They got a little frustrated and we were able to key on that."

Forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau said the whole team is happy for Hammond.

"He deserves everything that's happening for him," said Pageau. "He works hard in practice and tonight he made the big saves when we needed them."

The Canadiens have allowed the fewest goals in the NHL and conceded five for the first time since Nov. 23. It was Price's worst outing since a 6-2 loss to Calgary on Nov. 2.

"We just have to play better, especially me," said Price. "I don't think it was the best game I've played all season."

The Senators improved to 3-1-0 against the Canadiens this season.

A double high-sticking call on Alex Chiasson for clipping Tomas Plekanec had nearly ended when Pacioretty tipped in a P.K. Subban blast from the point at 6:43 of the first period.

Pacioretty then scored shorthanded as he deked Hammond on a breakaway only 2:11 later.

Karlsson took a cross-ice feed from David Legwand on a 3-on-2 break and beat Price for his 17th of the season at 2:50 of the second.

Ottawa tied it at 18:21 when Pageau held onto the puck until Price went down and saw his pass into the crease go in off Condra's skate.

Stone deflected a low pass under Price's arm on a power play 1:23 into the third. Karlsson sealed the win when, one second after Ottawa killed a four-minute penalty, he tipped Milan Michalek's pass under the crossbar at 9:43.

Methot's changeup shot from the left circle went in over Price's shoulder at 12:36.

The Canadiens, beaten 1-0 in overtime by Tampa Bay on Tuesday, went a second straight game without an even strength goal.

Coach Michel Therrien said it "was not about the offence tonight.

"We're not competing as a team and that's why we're having trouble."

NOTES: P.A. Parenteau returned to Montreal's lineup after sitting out four games, bumping Brian Flynn . . . Sergei Gonchar played his 1,300th NHL game. . . Colin Greening and Eric Gryba sat out for Ottawa.