P.K. Subban's 13th goal of the season turned out to be the winner as Dustin Tokarski survived a frantic third period attack by the Florida Panthers to give the Canadiens a 3-2 win in Sunrise Tuesday.

Jacob De La Rose had a goal and an assist, and Alexei Emelin also scored for the Canadiens. Dustin Tokarski made 41 saves in his first start in six games and earned his second win in seven starts.

Brandon Pirri and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers. Dan Ellis stopped 22 shots in his sixth straight start.

The Canadiens won for just the third time in nine games, but they remain atop the Atlantic Division with 95 points.

The Panthers lost their second straight after winning three consecutively.

Florida goalie Roberto Luongo missed his sixth consecutive game due to an upper-body injury and remains day-to-day.

The Panthers, who are on the outside looking into the playoff picture, fired 22 shots in the third period against the Habs' backup, while the Canadiens only got four in the frame against Dan Ellis.

“We really need contributions from more players. De La Rose was solid. Lars Eller played another good game. Emelin in his second game in two nights, played well,” said Coach Michel Therrien to a scrum of reporters after the game.

“The guys did a great job, blocked shots, paid the price, a win’s a win,” said Dustin Tokarski.

“We wanted to get a win for him big time, we haven’t played great in front of him in his last few starts, he held the fort when he needed to,” Brandon Prust said of Tokarski. “Going home with four points out of six makes it a lot better.”

“Looking down the bench we just looked tired, there wasn’t much energy and there wasn’t much talking on the bench,” said P.K. Subban. “I think we did a good job of managing the puck and getting the puck out in the neutral zone. We knew they were going to come out hard, when you’re playing desperation hockey that’s the way it’s going to be. “

The Habs next play Thursday in Montreal against the Hurricanes.

Canadiens 3, Panthers 2

First Period

No Scoring.

Penalties -- Jagr Fla (hooking) 19:31, Gallagher Mtl (high-sticking) 20:00, Mitchell Fla (high-sticking) 20:00.

Second Period

1. Florida, Barkov 12 (Huberdeau) 4:20.

2. Montreal, Emelin 3 (Prust, Weise) 5:44.

3. Montreal, De La Rose 3 (Prust) 8:23 (sh).

4. Florida, Pirri 16 (Boyes, Bjugstad) 13:35.

5. Montreal, Subban 13 (Eller, De La Rose) 15:26.

Penalties -- Malhotra Mtl (holding) 6:48.

Third Period

No Scoring.

Penalties -- Petry Mtl (stick holding) 5:55, Smith-Pelly Mtl (holding) 13:32, Campbell Fla (elbowing) 17:09, Galchenyuk Mtl (interference) 17:34, Jagr Fla (hooking) 19:45.

Shots on goal by

Montreal 13 8 4 -- 25

Florida 9 13 22 -- 44

Goal -- Power plays (goal-chances) -- Montreal: 0-3; Florida: 0-4.

at Florida.

-With a file from The Associated Press