Saku Koivu and Mathieu Schneider scored first-period power-play goals Thursday and Montreal moved up the playoff ladder by downing the New York Islanders 5-1. The Canadiens reached 90 points for the season and moved into seventh place in the Eastern Conference -- one point in front of the New York Rangers.

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.

Alex Kovalev and Alex Tanguay each scored two goals Tuesday and the Montreal Canadiens skated to a 6-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers. Saku Koivu had a goal and two assists and Glen Metropolit also scored for Montreal, which ended a five-game winless streak.

Saku Koivu got his second goal of the game 1:40 into overtime Tuesday to give the Montreal Canadians a 4-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Mathieu Schneider took a shot from the point and Koivu tipped it in from the slot for the game-winner.

Andrei Markov (power play), Josh Gorges, and Saku Koivu scored first-period goals Saturday night and the Montreal Canadiens beat San Jose 3-2. Koivu's 11th goal this season after an assist by Markov proved to be the game-winner. Jaroslav Halak was bombarded by 48 shots, but yielded two goals for the Canadiens, who have won four in a row after a three-game losing streak.