MONTREAL, March 31 (UPI) -- Maxim Lapierre scored the eventual game-winning goal Saturday night to help the Montreal Canadiens shade the Buffalo Sabres, 4-3.
The goal came at 8:16 of the second period and gave Montreal a 3-1 lead, which it never relinquished.
Michael Ryder, Radek Bonk and Saku Koivu also scored, and Jaroslav Halak stopped 22 of 25 shots for the Canadiens, who are in a battle with the New York Rangers for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
New York beat Philadelphia, 6-4, Saturday night.
Daniel Briere, Thomas Vanek and Dainius Zubrus scored, and Ty Conklin gave up four goals on 19 shots for the Sabres, who were hoping before the loss to clinch the East's top seed and home-ice advantage in the playoffs.
