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Final Score: Carolina 2 - Montreal 1

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Cam Ward stopped 34 shots and Eric Staal provided the game-winner early in the third period, as the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Montreal Canadiens, 2-1, at Bell Centre.

Brandon Sutter also tallied for the Hurricanes, who have won three of their last four games to keep their faint postseason hopes alive. Carolina is seven points out of a playoff spot with just five games to play.

Marc-Andre Bergeron scored a power-play goal for Montreal, which has lost five of six. The Habs remained tied with Philadelphia and Boston for the Eastern Conference's final three postseason berths. Atlanta is just two points behind in ninth place with 80.

Carey Price stopped 25 shots including a left pad save on Carolina's Erik Cole, but Staal buried the rebound past the prone netminder at the 2:55 mark of the third.

Bergeron's one-timer from the top of the right circle put Montreal on the board eight minutes into the contest.

"We came out with a real good start; a great opening 10 minutes," said Montreal forward Michael Cammalleri.

Sutter evened things up at 3:44 of the second period.

"We were able to get things going in our direction (after the first period) and we turned things around," Ward said. Montreal outshot the Hurricanes 12-2 in the first period.