Canadiens 4, Bruins 3 (AP)

As the surging Montreal Canadiens moved a step closer to making the playoffs, Jan Bulis couldn't help but keep an eye on the scoreboard. Alex Kovalev had two goals and an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Thursday night. Currently in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, Montreal leads ninth-place Atlanta by six points with two games remaining.

• Canadiens 4, Bruins 3 (AP)

Devils finish off sensational comeback to division title (AP)

Less than a month ago, the New Jersey Devils were scrambling to stay alive in the playoff race. Now, they're a division winner -- and among the Stanley Cup favorites. New Jersey won its 11th straight game Tuesday night, rallying from a three-goal deficit with a huge third period to beat host Montreal 4-3.

• Devils finish off sensational comeback to division title (AP)

Briere dazzles as Sabres rush past Canadiens

Daniel Briere faked out a defenseman and then did the same to the goalie to score on a breathtaking rush, sealing the Buffalo Sabres' 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens
on Wednesday night.

• Briere dazzles as Sabres rush past Canadiens

Canadiens-Sabres Preview

GAME: Montreal Canadiens (41-28-9) at Buffalo Sabres (48-24-6).

TIME: Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT.

The surging Montreal Canadiens look to close in on their second straight playoff berth as they visit the Buffalo Sabres.

The Canadiens are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and have not made consecutive trips to the playoffs since 1996-98.

Montreal defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Monday, its ninth win in the last 10 games.

• Canadiens-Sabres Preview

Maple Leafs-Canadiens, Sums

Toronto 1 0 1-2

Montreal 3 2 1-6

First Period-1, Toronto, Sundin 18 (Allison, Tucker), 2:47 (pp). 2, Montreal, Ryder 26 (Souray, Markov), 8:38 (pp). 3, Montreal, Bonk 3 (Begin, Downey), 14:56. 4, Montreal, Bonk 4 (Begin, Markov), 19:52. Penalties-Simpson, Mon (holding), 1:29; O'Neill, Tor (interference), 6:32; Wilm, Tor (slashing), 7:03; Kovalev, Mon (diving), 18:11; Kaberle, Tor (hooking), 18:11.

Second Period-5, Montreal, Markov 10 (Higgins, Koivu), 9:01 (pp).

• Maple Leafs-Canadiens, Sums

Hockey Daily March 26

Alexei Kovalev and the Canadiens look to avoid getting swept in the season series against the Penguins on Sunday. Watch it on FSN Pittsburgh.

• Hockey Daily March 26

Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 2

The Canadiens are finally getting some offense out of Radek Bonk. They might need more if leading scorer Alex Kovalev gets suspended.

Bonk and Michael Ryder each scored twice and Cristobal Huet made 26 saves as Montreal completed a two-game home sweep against Toronto with a 6-2 win Saturday night over the Maple Leafs.

Andrei Markov and Garth Murray also scored for Montreal, which moved one point ahead of Atlanta into eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

• Canadiens 6, Maple Leafs 2

Canadiens-Penguins, Sums

Montreal 2 3 1-6

Pittsburgh 0 3 2-5

First Period-1, Montreal, Higgins 15 (Koivu, Ryder), 4:24 (pp). 2, Montreal, Bonk 5 (Sundstrom, Streit), 5:05. Penalties-Surovy, Pit (holding), 3:00; Whitney, Pit (hooking), 8:21; Murray, Mon (hooking), 16:09; Kovalev, Mon (hooking), 19:47.

Second Period-3, Pittsburgh, Armstrong 11 (Crosby, Gonchar), :41 (pp). 4, Montreal, Higgins 16 (Koivu, Souray), 3:14. 5, Pittsburgh, Surovy 11 (Ouellet, Welch), 6:04 (pp).

• Canadiens-Penguins, Sums

Islanders-Canadiens, Sums

N.Y. Islanders 0 0 0-0

Montreal 1 0 1-2

First Period-1, Montreal, Higgins 17 (Koivu, Ryder), 7:40. Penalties-Bouchard, NYI (interference), 8:31; Godard, NYI (roughing), 14:47; Komisarek, Mon, minor-major-misconduct-game misconduct (instigator, fighting), 14:47.

Second Period-None. Penalties-Bates, NYI (high-sticking), 4:26; Godard, NYI (hooking), 9:43; Kovalev, Mon (holding), 16:53.

Third Period-2, Montreal, Bonk 6 (Markov), 19:59 (sh-en).

• Islanders-Canadiens, Sums

Canadiens 2, Islanders 0

Before this season, Cristobal Huet might have been the only person to believe he could lead the Montreal Canadiens into the playoffs.

His coach certainly didn't think so.

"No idea," said Bob Gainey, who also serves as general manager.

Huet made 36 saves for his sixth shutout to lead the Canadiens to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. He has recorded all of his shutouts since wresting the starting job away from Jose Theodore on Feb. 2.

• Canadiens 2, Islanders 0

Canadiens gut out win over Pens

Playing their fifth game in seven nights and coming off two emotional wins against their national rivals, the Montreal Canadiens were facing the classic "trap game" scenario against the team with the NHL's worst record.

But Montreal didn't fall for the trap, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-5 on Sunday night to avoid being swept in the season series.

"We've got to be happy with the two points," forward Radek Bonk said.

• Canadiens gut out win over Pens

Huet stops 36 as Habs blank Isles

Cristobal Huet made 36 saves for his sixth shutout, and rookie Chris Higgins scored his third goal in two games to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

Radek Bonk scored into an empty net for Montreal, which began the day tied with New Jersey for seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens won their fourth in a row since a road loss to the Islanders on March 21. Montreal has 81 points, five more than ninth-place Atlanta.

• Huet stops 36 as Habs blank Isles

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are the oldest established National Hockey League franchise, and one of the most successful in all of North American sports history.