MONTREAL - Most years at this time the Montreal Canadiens are focused on putting pucks in nets. This year they're putting clothing in suitcases, readying to leave town until the end of summer.
The Montreal Canadiens are wistfully packing their bags today but buoyed at least by some respectable late-season play, including a final-game 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose season also ended Saturday.
The performance featured a couple of unexpected goals, the first being by Tomas Plekanec got it started with a rare short-handed goal with his team down two players. The three-on-five breakaway marker was the team's first since March 1983 when Guy Carbonneau popped one in against the Minnesota North Stars.
The game ended with tough-guy Brad Staubitz netting his first goal in 62 games this season, as he cleared it into an empty net, as the Leafs unusually pulled their goalie with just under three minutes left in an attempt to catch up on a two-goal deficit.
Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole also scored for Montreal, which finished last in the Eastern Conference but ended the season by taking five of a possible six points over the final three games.
Although finishing 28th in the 30-team league, the Canadiens were competitive on most nights, as evidenced by their negative 14 goal differential, a result of scoring 212 goals and allowing 226. That was good for 19th overall and proved only six goals worse than playoff-bound Washington Capitals.
"Going into the summer with confidence and getting everyone on the same page is definitely a good feeling," said Pacioretty, who scored 33 goals and established himself as a first-line left wing. "I think everyone played well."
Dion Phaneuf scored for Toronto, whose promising start to the season was done in by a 7-18-4 record over the past two months.
"It's been a tough finish for our team," said Phaneuf, the Leafs captain whose season will continue with the Canadian team at the world championships next month in Finland. "But we've got to evaluate over the next couple of days and then move forward.
"We've been very open about being very disappointed the way that we finished and we've got to move on now."
The Leafs, who have missed the playoffs seven years in a row, outshot Montreal 31-27.
There was a warm ovation as the Canadiens players and coaches went onto the ice together to thank the fans for their support after the game.
The future of interim head coach for Randy Cunneyworth is uncertain as the team is about to replace the fired Pierre Gauthier as general manager.
"For Randy, for (goalie Peter) Budaj, for Staubitz, this game couldn't have played out better than it did," forward Lars Eller said.
"The last three games we tried to leave a good impression," Budaj said. "It's a disappointing season, but we didn't throw in the towel.
"We worked hard. I'm glad we were able to show the organization and the fans that we appreciate their support. We got the two points and it's so much sweeter because it's against the Leafs. Everybody (Montreal fans) don't like the Leafs, so."
A two-man advantage for 61 seconds turned into disaster for Toronto as Plekanec chipped the puck away from Jake Gardiner at the point and skated in alone to score 3:20 into the game.
Plekanec didn't get a shot off, but the puck slid under goaltender Ben Scrivens just the same. Toronto did not get a shot on goal during the power play.
It was the second goal scored while two men down in the NHL this season, after Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke did it against
Philadelphia on Feb. 18. And it was the first by a Canadien since March 24, 1983, when Guy Carbonneau scored against the Minnesota North Stars.
Montreal caught the Leafs on a bad line change to get a 3-on-2 break, and Pacioretty opted to shoot and beat Scrivens with a high shot from close range 1:18 into the second frame.
Phaneuf put Toronto on the board 25 seconds into the third when his shot from the left point got through traffic and over Budaj's glove.
Cole restored the two-goal advantage at 4:07 when he broke in alone on a counterattack and flipped the puck over Scrivens' glove for his 35th goal of the season.
The Leafs pulled Scrivens with three minutes left to play, and Cunneyworth took the opportunity to get Staubitz onto the ice.
It worked as he picked a puck out of a scramble in the Montreal crease and fired it the length of the ice into the Toronto net.
Staubitz, acquired in a midseason trade, was mobbed by his teammates after his first goals with Montreal.
"It was nice to get that doughnut off the goals column," said Staubitz, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. "I have to thank the coaches.
"They know I played hard and did things for the team and they gave me my chance to get my cookie, which was nice. I found a nice spot here. I enjoy the guys and I hope I can extend my time here."
The teams split the season series at three wins.
Notes: Injured goalie Carey Price wore a full cowboy outfit with a wide black hat on the ice to collect his Molson Cup player of the year award. Josh Gorges got the Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the Habs' unsung hero. Price got a standing ovation. ... Before the game, apologetic-sounding Canadiens read thank you messages to fans acknowledging they had a "difficult" campaign and promising to do better next season. ... Pacioretty said he will play for the U.S. at the world championship.
With files from The Associated Press
