Christian Dvorak's 100th career goal helps Canadiens beat Panthers

Cole Caufield had a goal with an assist, and Christian Dvorak netted his 100th career goal, as the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Florida Panthers 3-1 on Saturday night.

Caufield scored late in the first period, after assisting on Patrik Laine's power-play goal for the Canadiens, who are in the mix for a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Dvorak, meanwhile, added some third-period insurance with his milestone goal and Sam Montembeault made 21 saves for the Canadiens, who are amid a 7-1-2 stretch and won a season-high four straight at home.

Mackie Samoskevich continued his stellar first full NHL season with a second-period goal for Florida, which leads the Atlantic Division, but has lost two of three after winning six in a row. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 12 shots for the Panthers, who continue to play without key stars Matthew Tkachuk (groin), Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and recent acquisition Brad Marchand (upper-body injury).

Montreal opened the scoring 5:15 into the contest. With the man-advantage, the Canadiens kept the puck in the Florida zone and eventually it got to Laine, who snapped it past Bobrovsky for his 13th power-play goal on the season.

The Canadiens appeared to go up 2-0 with a second power-play goal later in the first, but Alex Newhook's goal was overturned for goaltender interference via a successful Florida challenge. Montreal eventually went ahead 2-0, when off a Panthers' turnover, the puck found Juraj Slafkovsky, who sent it net-front to Caufield, who re-positioned himself to beat Bobrovsky with 4:04 remaining in the opening period.

Caufield has seven goals and five assists in the last 10 games.

Florida broke through with 3:51 into the second. Samoskevich got the back behind the Montreal net, skated into the slot and converted over the pad of Montembeault, who the Canadiens felt was interfered by the Panthers' Sam Bennett on the play, to make it 2-1.

But, another own-zone turnover by Florida led to Dvorak's tally 8:11 into the third period. That came off a redirect of David Savard's drive from the point.