Hurricanes top Canadiens in OT

Andrei Svechnikov scored with 1:45 left in overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 Sunday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, in a matchup with Eastern Conference playoff implications.

Carolina’s Trevor van Riemsdyk scored the tying goal with 5:39 remaining, and Svechnikov ended it with a wrist shot in the extra session. Curtis Mcelhinney stopped 28 shots.

With the win, Carolina remained alone in the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal squandered a chance to move into a tie with Carolina with a win.

Paul Byron scored in the first period, and Carey Price stopped 38 of 40 shots as Montreal had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Montreal controlled play most of the way before a sudden turn in the final minutes.

The Canadiens got the scoring started when Brendan Gallagher fired a shot from the left faceoff circle that was deflected by Teuvo Teravainen. But the rolling puck went straight to Byron along the far post, and he buried it.

The Canadiens had other chances, too. Jeff Petry hit the post in the first period, and in the second, Tomas Tatar also hit a post. Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a breakaway denied by Mcelhinney and Nate Thompson’s point-blank shot in the crease after a turnover was stuffed by Mcelhinney, as well.

The Hurricanes didn’t get their first shot on net in the second period until there was 5:27 left.

The Hurricanes finally put pressure on in the third period, but couldn’t solve Price.

CAPITALS 3, FLYERS 1:

Braden Holtby made 35 saves, and Washington beat Philadelphia to snap a two-game skid.

ISLANDERS 2, COYOTES 0: Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson scored to back Robin Lehner’s fifth shutout of the season as New York beat Arizona.

BLACKHAWKS 2, AVALANCHE 1, OT:

Duncan Keith scored 1:23 into overtime to lift Chicago over Colorado.