MONTREAL

Canadiens beat Panthers to clinch playoff spot

Kelsey Patterson The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, March 30, 2017 10:30PM EDT Last Updated Thursday, March 30, 2017 10:31PM EDT

Montreal Canadiens centre Tomas Plekanec (14) celebrates with teammates Alexei Emelin (74)Brendan Gallagher (11) and Paul Byron (41) in Montreal, Thursday, March 30, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

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Paul Byron had two goals and Brendan Gallagher scored and added three assists as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the visiting Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday to clinch a playoff spot with five games remaining in their regular season.

Tomas Plekanec, Max Pacioretty and Phillip Danault also scored for Montreal (44-24-9). Carey Price made 29 saves for his 36th victory of the season.

The Canadiens will play in the post-season for the fourth time in the past five years, and for the eighth time in the last decade.

Reilly Smith and Michael Matheson scored for the Panthers (33-33-11). Reto Berra, replacing injured goalies James Reimer (upper body) and Roberto Luongo (lower body), stopped 26-of-32 shots in defeat.

The Canadiens had a resounding first period and that's all they would need to beat the Panthers.

Plekanec's line with Byron and Gallagher scored three times in a 5:55 span in the first as the Canadiens quickly jumped to an insurmountable 3-0 lead.