Panthers 3, Canadiens 2 (SO)
Dave Bolland scored the decisive goal in the sixth round of the shootout as visiting Florida inched closer to a playoff spot.
Tomas Fleischmann scored and set up defenseman Steven Kampfer's tying tally - his first goal in nearly three years - as the Panthers erased a 2-0 deficit and pulled within one point of Boston for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Roberto Luongo made 37 saves and allowed just one goal in the bonus format to earn his first victory over Montreal since December 2011.
Brendan Gallagher scored both goals for the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens, who dropped their second in a row. Carey Price (19 saves) had his five-start winning streak snapped and suffered his first loss in a shootout (3-1) after allowing goals by Nick Bjugstad and Bolland.
Gallagher opened the scoring 2 1/2 minutes into the second period, chopping the rebound of Max Pacioretty's shot between the pads of Luongo. Defenseman P.K. Subban did all of the work on Montreal's second tally midway through the session and Gallagher finished it off, converting from the left side of the net while falling to the ice.
Florida struck back 82 seconds later as Fleischmann corralled a loose puck and beat Price from the slot with 8:06 left in the period. The Panthers pulled even just as a power play expired as Fleischmann set up Kampfer, who whipped a sharp-angle shot from along the end line on the left side past Price at 4:57 of the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Gallagher's first goal also accounted for his 100th career point, while Pacioretty's assist gave him 22 points in his last 21 games. ... Kampfer, appearing in his eighth game of the season, notched his first goal since March 24, 2012, when he was a member of the Minnesota Wild. ... Panthers captain Willie Mitchell (upper body) missed his eighth straight game while the Canadiens were without Alexei Emelin and fellow D Sergei Gonchar (upper body), who was placed on injured reserve Thursday.