Neil's first goal of the season broke a 1-1 tie at 16:30 of the third.

Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in the third, once into an empty net.

Dany Heatley had two assists, and goaltender Martin Gerber stopped 29-of-30 Montreal shots to help the Senators avert a second straight loss, following a franchise-record eight-game winning streak.

The goals by Neil and Alfredsson came 1:40 apart.

Montreal's lone tally came from Andrei Markov on the power play at 11:11 of the first.

Goalie Cristobal Huet was beaten twice on 36 shots for the Canadiens, who had won their previous two games.

On the power play, Montreal went 1-for-4, while Ottawa was 0-for-2.