Nick Suzuki helps Canadiens defeat Panthers

Nick Suzuki had a goal and two assists for the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Sunrise, Fla.

Juraj Slafkovsky had a goal and an assist, Patrik Laine and Brendan Gallagher also scored, Lane Hutson totaled three assists, and Sam Montembeault made 24 saves for the Canadiens (34-30-9, 77 points), who moved into the second wild-card spot from the Eastern Conference in the finale of the four-game trip

Sam Reinhart and Seth Jones scored, Aleksander Barkov had two assists, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 18 saves for the Panthers (44-26-3, 91 points), who missed a chance to retake first place in the Atlantic Division.

Laine scored with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle while on a power play to give the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 12:03 of the first period.

Laine has scored 15 of his 19 goals on the power play this season.

The Panthers tied it 1-1 at 13:16.

Hutson overskated the puck while retrieving it behind his net, allowing Reinhart to take possession and then skated in front of the crease before scoring with a backhand for his 36th goal of the season.

The Canadiens moved back in front 2-1 with another power play goal at 11:27 of the second period

Slafkovsky, who turned 21 on Sunday, tried to center the puck to Cole Caufield from below the right circle, but it went off Jones and into his own net.

The Panthers tied it again 2-2 at 16:24 of the second on a one-timer from above the right circle by Jones.

Suzuki scored with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle to give the Canadiens a 3-2 lead at 2:02 of the third period.

Gallagher sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:44 left.

Montreal, which beat Florida, 3-1, in Montreal on March 15 behind 21 saves from Montembeault, will turn around and host the Panthers again on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media