Canadiens Defeat Canucks 4-2, Tighten Wild Card Race

Juraj Slafkovsky led the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, contributing a goal and two assists. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield each added a goal and an assist, while Mike Matheson sealed the win with an empty-net goal. Montreal's Sam Montembault made 29 saves, helping his team improve to 6-1-1 in their last eight games and move within two points of the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot. The Canucks fought back in the third period with goals from Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson but could not equalize. Vancouver has struggled offensively, failing to score more than three goals in 15 games and remaining without a third-period comeback this season. The loss keeps the Canucks one point behind the Calgary Flames for the last wild-card position in the Western Conference.