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The Montreal Canadiens strengthened their hold on the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot with a 2-1 road victory over the slumping Nashville Predators on Sunday.

Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine scored second-period goals to pace the Canadiens (38-30-9, 85 points) to their fifth consecutive victory.

Goaltender Jakub Dobes made 36 saves, including a couple in the final minute to preserve the win.

The Canadiens are six points ahead of both the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings in the chase for the final playoff position. Montreal has five games remaining in the regular season and the pursuers have six contests on the docket.

Steven Stamkos opened the game’s scoring for the Predators (27-42-8, 62 points), who have lost six consecutive games — all in regulation time.

Goalie Juuse Saros stopped 15 shots behind Nashville’s league-worst offense.

After a disappointing first period in which they were outplayed, with Stamkos’ score giving Nashville a 1-0 lead, Montreal took control in the middle frame.

Caufield tied the clash 100 seconds into the second period after receiving a pass from Nick Suzuki at the blue line, working his way deep toward the left circle and wiring a low shot for his 36th goal of the campaign and a career-high 66th point.

Suzuki’s assist extended his point-scoring streak to five games, in which he has netted five goals and dished out five assists.

Laine put the Canadiens ahead 2-1 at 5:47 with his 20th goal of the season, a top-corner shot over the glove hand to finish a rush up the ice.

With an assist on the goal, Lane Hutson tied Chris Chelios for the franchise record for most points by a rookie defenseman with 64.

The Predators, who pulled their goalie for the extra attacker with more than two minutes remaining in regulation, had a late push but never found a tying tally, wasting another game they led.

Stamkos gave the Predators an early boost when he opened the scoring at 4:19. Filip Forsberg created a turnover deep in Montreal territory, and Stamkos recovered the puck before slipping home his 25th goal of the season.

–Field Level Media