MONTREAL — David Desharnais and Rene Bourque each scored two goals to propel the Canadiens to a decisive 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon over division rivals the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres spoiled goaltender Carey Price’s shutout bid when Thomas Vanek scored a short-handed goal in the third period. Price tried to smother the puck, but it hit his arm and bounced over him into the net.

Vanek went into the game leading the league in points.

The game also marked the return of P.K. Subban, the Canadiens’ star defenceman who led the team in ice time last season, but remained unsigned at the start of this shortened season. The Canadiens signed him to a two-year deal on Monday.

Subban was greeted with cheers and some chants of “P.K.! “They rained down again in the third period when Subban assisted on a power-play goal by Desharnais that put the Canadiens up 6-1. It was Desharnais’ second goal of the game. Forward Lars Eller also got an assist on the play.

The Sabres replaced goaltender Ryan Miller with Jhonas Enroth at the start of the third period.

The Canadiens pulled ahead 4-0 in the second period on back-to-back goals by Desharnais and Eller, both of whom have struggled so far this season.

Desharnais fired a shot past Miller from Eller at 10:08 of the second period. As Desharnais’ first goal of the season was being announced, it was Eller’s turn, sliding the puck through Miller’s legs. Alex Galchenyuk and Tomas Kaberle assisted on the play.

The Canadiens’ two rookies continue to shine on the ice to the delight of the Bell Centre crowd. Brendan Gallagher scored at 2:03 of the second period on a 2-on-1 with Galchenyuk, the Canadiens first-round draft pick last June. Gallagher’s pass to Galchenyuk hit Sabres defenceman Christian Ehrhoff’s stick and went past Miller. It was Gallagher’s third goal of the season. Galchenyuk collected two assists in the game.

The Canadiens got on the scoreboard in the dying seconds of the first period on the power play when Gionta raced after the puck in the Sabres’ end of the ice and shot toward the net, where Bourque was camped out. Bourque was given credit for the goal, his second of the season.

Bourque had a strong game and drew a penalty on a similar play to set up the power play. He also scored in the third period.

The Canadiens outshot the Sabres 15-1 in the first period. The Sabres’ lone shot by Jason Pominville only came at 10:38.

Canadiens forward Ryan White, who took three penalties in the team’s 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, was a healthy scratch, as was defenceman Yannick Weber.

Max Pacioretty has been cleared for practice after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on Jan. 26. But he is still on the injured reserve list and did not play Saturday.

The Canadiens’ home record last season was the second-worst in the Eastern Conference after the New York Islanders. The Canadiens have won four of five games at the Bell Centre so far this season.

It’s the first of five matchups this season between the division rivals. The Sabres won all but one of their six games last season against the Canadiens.

The Canadiens play back-to-back afternoon games this weekend. Next up at the Bell Centre is the Ottawa Senators on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Bell Centre.

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