Canadiens extend their winning streak to 4 games with a 3-2 win over the Flyers

MONTREAL (AP) — Nick Suzuki had a goal and an assist and the Montreal Canadiens scored three times in the third period, rallying to beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Saturday night.

Suzuki’s short-handed goal gave him 83 points for the season. Brendan Gallagher scored his 20th of the season and Lane Hutson added a goal as Montreal (37-30-9) won its fourth straight. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves in his fifth straight start.

Ryan Poehling and Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers (31-37-9), who saw their three-game winning streak halted. Samuel Ersson stopped 23 shots.

The Flyers fell to 3-1-0 under interim head coach Brad Shaw after John Tortorella was fired March 27. Philadelphia beat Montreal 6-4 at home later that day.

The Canadiens, who hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, have a four-point cushion over the New York Rangers.

Canadiens: Were without winger Josh Anderson, out for “personal reasons” after telling reporters Thursday his wife was expecting their first child any day. Oliver Kapanen, who rejoined the Canadiens on Wednesday after spending the bulk of his season in Sweden, was in the lineup.

Flyers: Karsen Dorwart made his NHL debut after signing with Philadelphia out of Michigan State last week. The 22-year-old college free agent had 31 points in 35 games with the Spartans.

Hutson floated the puck from a sharp angle near the goal line and fooled Ersson with a shot into the top right corner. It was Hutson's sixth of the season.

Hutson, with 63 points, is one behind Chris Chelios for the most points by a rookie defenseman in Canadiens franchise history.

The Flyers are at the New York Rangers on Wednesday. The Canadiens are at the Nashville Predators on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson reacts after being scored on by Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher, not shown, during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier (14) is upended by Montreal Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier (45) as he moves in on Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Flyers' Noah Cates (27) moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) as Canadiens' Joel Armia (40) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Patrik Laine (92) moves in on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) moves in on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) as Flyers' Nick Seeler (24) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) stops Philadelphia Flyers' Karsen Dorwart (23) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher (11) and Christian Dvorak (28) move in on Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) as Flyers' Nick Seeler (24) and Travis Sanheim (6) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Montreal, Saturday, April 5, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Connor McMichael had a goal and an assist, and the Washington Capitals snapped Chicago's four-game win streak with a 5-1 over the depleted Blackhawks on Friday night.

Alex Ovechkin, Anthony Beauvillier, Ethen Frank and Justin Sourdif also scored for Washington, which had lost three of four. John Carlson and Martin Fehervary each had two assists, and Logan Thompson made 23 saves.

Connor Bedard returned for Chicago after being sidelined by a shoulder injury, but the Blackhawks were hit hard by an illness going around the locker room. Goaltenders Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom were scratched, along with forward Ilya Mikheyev and defenseman Louis Crevier.

Oliver Moore scored for Chicago, which beat Washington 3-2 in a shootout last weekend. Drew Commesso made 19 saves in his second career NHL start.

Bedard skated for more than 17 minutes. The Blackhawks went 5-6-1 while he was out.

The Capitals grabbed control with three goals in the first period. Beauvillier tipped home a great pass from Fehervary at 4:03, and a streaking McMichael slipped a shot between Commesso's legs at 15:07. Frank added his seventh of the season with 1:06 left.

Moore scored on a power play 8:48 into the second, but Sourdif made it 4-1 when he finished a goalmouth scramble at 12:38. Sourdif has six goals in his last six games and nine this season overall.

Ovechkin added his 19th goal in the third, beating Commesso through the goaltender's legs at 13:33. The 40-year-old winger has four goals in his last three games and 916 for his career. He has scored on 187 different goaltenders — increasing his NHL record.

The Capitals visit Nashville on Sunday night.

The Blackhawks are at the Predators on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehérváry (42) shoots the puck as he assists left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) in scoring a goal on the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier, right, celebrates his goal on the Chicago Blackhawks with defenseman Martin Fehérváry (42) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)