Canadiens 4, Maple Leafs 1
Brian Gionta scored twice as the Montreal Canadiens secured sixth place in the Eastern Conference on Saturday with a 4-1 win over the host Toronto Maple Leafs in the season finale for both teams.
Gionta's power-play goal early in the first period stood as the game winner, and he added another marker with the man advantage in the second frame to pace the Canadiens (44-30-8). Gionta has three goals in his last two games after behind held off the scoresheet in his previous eight contests.
Ryan White and Tomas Plekanec had the other goals for Montreal, which will face the division-rival Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs.
Phil Kessel's first-period goal provided the lone offense for the Maple Leafs (37-34-11), who will finish 10th in the East. Joe Colborne assisted on Kessel's goal in his first career NHL game.
The teams played a wide-open style for most of the game, but it was Montreal's special teams which made the difference.
The Canadiens, who rank in the top-10 in power-play and penalty-killing proficiencies, went 2 for 3 with the man advantage while killing off all five Toronto power plays. Plekanec's goal came while Montreal was shorthanded.