(Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens unleashed three goals in the third period and goaltender Peter Budaj protected his shutout in a 3-0 victory over Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

Brandon Prust broke the deadlock at 2:06 in the final period before Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty also netted shots to overwhelm the visiting Hurricanes and give the Canadiens a fourth straight win.

Budaj, filling in for the flu-afflicted Carey Price, needed just 19 saves for his first clean sheet with Montreal.

Cam Ward turned back 23 shots for Carolina but folded in the third as the injury-weakened Hurricanes saw their three-game winning run come to an end.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles, editing by Nick Mulvenney)