RALEIGH, N.C. _ After the big win Saturday over Minnesota, after the "We want playoffs" chant and the Trevor van Riemsdyk postgame dunk, Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour had this to say:
"There's no rest. You've got to keep pushing forward. There's still too much hockey."
For Brind'Amour, it was a declarative and cautionary statement. There were more big, meaningful games for the Canes before anyone can think about the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Sunday's game, for example. In a matchup of teams holding the two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference, it took overtime but the Canes kept pushing and finally beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 on Andrei Svechnikov's goal with 1:45 left in the period.
Paul Byron scored in the first period for the Canadiens and goaltender Carey Price made the lead hold up until 5:39 was left in regulation. That's when Canes defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk winged a shot from the point, the puck glancing off Habs defenseman Jordie Benn for a 1-1 tie _ for van Riemsdyk his first goal since Nov. 27 at Montreal.
The Canes (42-26-7), with 91 points, strengthened their hold on first wild-card position and have a game-in-hand on the Canadiens.
Canes goalie Curtis McElhinney, who had 28 saves, was named the game's first star.
The Canes, after finishing a five-game homestand, next have two games against the Washington Capitals _ the first Tuesday on the road.
In what was a 1-0 game much of the night, the Canes were totally ineffective on three power plays. A third-period power play was so poor, the Canes fumbling and losing the puck, a some frustrated boos broke out.
Adding to the Canes frustration: Price denying Sebastian Aho and then Teuvo Teravainen on third-period breakaways.
The Habs and Canes matched speed and skill in the first period, forcing Price and Canes goalie Curtis McElhinney into some tough, high-quality saves _ in Price's case, 21 saves in all.
The Habs' goal by Byron came after Nate Thompson forced a Teravainen turnover in the Canes zone. Teravainen got his stick on a shot by Brendan Gallagher, but the puck fell at the feet of Byron, who had a tap-in for his 15th.
Earlier in the period, the Canes' Brock McGinn was looking at a mostly empty net at the end of a strong forechecking shift but was wide right on the shot.
Price took a shot off the mask from Jaccob Slavin early in the game, then recovered quickly enough to glove a quick shot by Jordan Staal off the rebound.
The Canadiens controlled the pace and play in the second, keeping puck possession. The Canes did not have a shot on goal in the first 14:36 of the period, and four in all, while the Habs kept McElhinney busy.
