Nick Suzuki scored and added an assist as the Montreal Canadiens erased a third-period deficit to edge the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday night.
The victory, coupled with the New York Rangers’ loss earlier Saturday, gave the Canadiens (37-30-9, 83 points) a four-point advantage toward the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot.
Brendan Gallagher and Lane Hutson also scored for Montreal, which extended its win streak to four games.
Sam Montembeault made 21 saves for the Canadiens, who improved to 7-3-3 over their last 13 games.
Ryan Poehling had a goal and an assist and Tyson Foerster also scored for Philadelphia (31-37-9, 71 points), which had its three-game win streak snapped.
Samuel Ersson stopped 23 shots.
Montreal scored twice in a 1:16 span of the third period to erase a 1-0 deficit.
The Canadiens tied it 1-all 1:24 into the third period as Gallagher one-timed a Jake Evans feed past Ersson for his 20th of the season. Gallagher has goals in back-to-back games and points in five of his last six games (three goals, three assists).
Hutson gave Montreal its first lead of the game at 2:40 of the third, snapping a shot short-side past Ersson for his sixth of the season.
Suzuki added the game-winner short-handed at 10:39, snapping a shot off the post and in past Ersson for his 27th. Saturday was the fourth straight multi-point game for the Canadiens captain. Suzuki has five goals and four assists during the streak.
Foerster made it a one-goal game with 38.5 seconds remaining in the third, snapping a Travis Konecny feed past Montembeault on a power play for his 19th.
Philadelphia outshot Montreal 7-4 in the opening frame and led 1-0 after 20 minutes.
Poehling opened the scoring 4:10 into the first, backhanding a Jakob Pelletier feed past Montembeault for his 12th of the season. Poehling, a former Canadiens prospect, has eight goals and four assists in his last 11 games.
Saturday was the teams’ third and final meeting. The Canadiens and Flyers split their first two meetings. Montreal edged host Philadelphia 4-3 on Oct. 27, while the Flyers picked up a 6-4 home win last Thursday.
–Field Level Media
