Saku Koivu scored 1:45 into overtime Thursday to bring the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 decision over Tampa Bay. The Canadiens let a 2-0 lead get away in the third period, but managed to get their second straight victory after enduring a season-worst, five-game losing streak. Montreal maintained a two-point lead over Florida in the race for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves Friday night to record his second shutout of the season, giving the Atlanta Thrashers a 2-0 triumph over Montreal. Bryan Little scored on the power play with 2:32 to play in the first period and it remained a 1-0 game until Rich Peverley put one into an empty net with 36 seconds left in the contest. Lehtonen, who has 13 shutouts for his NHL career, helped the Thrashers improve to 2-1 on a four-game homestand. Ilya Kovalchuk had an assist on both goals, giving him five goals and six assists during a six-game point streak.

Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom scored shootout goals Wednesday to bring Washington a 4-3 win over Montreal. Semin scored in the first round of the shootout when the puck fell out of Carey Price's pads and into the net.

Chris Thorburn had a goal and an assist Tuesday, keying the Atlanta Thrashers' 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadians. Zach Bogosian, Erik Christensen and Rich Peverley also scored for the Thrashers, who have won three games in a row.

Maxim Lapierre turned in the first hat trick of his NHL career Monday to boost the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-2 victory over Florida. Alex Kovalev and Tomas Plekanec also scored for the Canadiens, who are 4-0-1 over their last five games.