OTTAWA -- The Ottawa Senators lived to fight another day.

Winger Mike Hoffman scored with 10:55 left in regulation as the Senators staved off elimination with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series Wednesday night at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Canadiens now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 to be played Friday in Montreal.

Hoffman's shot through a screen from near the top of the left-wing face-off circle ended an intense goalie duel in front of a towel-waving full house.

Senators goalie Craig Anderson shared the hero's role, making 28 saves for the shutout. Canadiens goal Carey Price also turned in an exceptional performance, stopping 31 of 32 shots.

Hoffman, who led the Senators in goals with 27 during the regular season, had been demoted to fourth-line duties in recent weeks because of his defensive play. But with the team facing elimination, coach Dave Cameron reunited Hoffman with center Mika Zibanejad and winger Bobby Ryan on the second unit, and the move paid off.

For the first time in the series, the Senators could live with their second period, if only because there was no scoring either way.

The Canadiens only had one power play in the middle segment, when the Senators were called for a rarely seen faceoff violation in the offensive zone. It was sandwiched around two Senators power plays that produced nothing other than a little momentum.

The best stop of the second wasn't even a save, but Anderson didn't give Canadiens winger Brandon Prust anything to shoot at on his short-handed breakaway, which ultimately saw a backhand attempt hit the side of the net.

Price's best save was made with his right leg, as center Kyle Turris took a shot from in close just before being pulled down on an interference call against Montreal defenseman Alexei Emelin.

The Canadiens held an 11-9 shots on goal edge in the scoreless first period. Both goalies made their best saves in the 16th minute, as Anderson stopped Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec at one end seconds before Price turned back Senators winger Mark Stone on a 3-on-1.

The Senators took the only two penalties of the first period, with defenseman Mark Borowiecki being called for interference at the 6:05 mark after hustling back to break up an odd-man rush, then called for crosschecking during a goal mouth scramble at 18:21.

NOTES: Senators C Zack Smith dressed for his first game in the playoffs, taking over fourth-line duties from C David Legwand, who was a healthy scratch. Smith played the last 10 games of the regular season after returning from a dislocated wrist that kept him out for three months. Coach Dave Cameron said he was making the move to add speed to the lineup, but Smith was also expected to bring more physicality. ... Canadiens RW Dale Weise, the Game 2 hero with the tying and overtime-winning goals, had Smith as his best man when he was married. The two played three seasons together with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. ... Canadiens D Greg Pateryn made his NHL playoff debut by taking the place of D Nathan Beaulieu, who was knocked out of the series with an "upper body" injury suffered when he was hit by Senators D Erik Karlsson in Game 2. Pateryn, a former fifth-round pick, has 20 games of regular-season experience. ... Senators G Craig Anderson was given the start despite the fact he has won just one of five games since Jan. 21. Senators G Andrew Hammond has lost just two times in regulation in his last 25 starts dating to Feb. 18. "He has a proven playoff record of being a real good goalie," Cameron said of Anderson.