Suzuki gets 3 points, Canadiens defeat Hurricanes for 5th win in row

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nick Suzuki had two goals and an assist, and the Montreal Canadiens won their season-high fifth straight game with a 3-1 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on Sunday.

The Montreal captain pushed his season total to an NHL career-high 91 points (26 goals, 65 assists), surpassing the 89 he had last season.

Cole Caufield scored his 46th goal and had an assist, Lane Hutson had two assists and Jakub Dobes made 34 saves for the Canadiens (42-21-10), who defeated the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Saturday.

“Sometimes in this league, it doesn’t have to be pretty," Montreal defenseman Noah Dobson said. "But it says a lot about the guys, how we grind it out and wait for opportunities. Obviously, a tremendous commitment at the end by everyone, and Dobes played another great game for us.”

The Canadiens are third in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of the Boston Bruins with a game in hand.

Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes (46-21-6), who have lost two of their past three games. Frederik Andersen made 15 saves.

Carolina is first in the Metropolitan Division, nine points ahead of the New York Islanders.

The Canadiens swept the season series 3-0, including a 5-2 win at Montreal on Tuesday when they were outshot 43-19.

“It’s pretty much identical as the game up there,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “We played well, we definitely created enough opportunities, we just didn’t score. So, you tip your hat to that goalie. He played great again.”

Carolina took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 8:37 of the first period. Svechnikov took a pass from Seth Jarvis in the right circle and one-timed a shot under the crossbar.

Montreal scored off the rush to tie the game 1-1 at 6:18 of the second period. Caufield took a stretch pass from Hutson before pulling up in the left circle and feeding Suzuki, who scored while driving the net.

“They’re such an aggressive team. If (we) have any time and space, we can send our wingers out, and Cole did that on the first goal,” Suzuki said. “You can try to use their aggressiveness against them, and we were able to do that on our first two (goals).”

The Canadiens scored on a similar play to make it 2-1 at 17:32. Suzuki took a pass from Hutson through the neutral zone and passed to Caufield for a snap shot that beat Andersen blocker side.

“(Hutson) is a special player,” Dobson said. “… He drives the offense from the back end, so it’s great to see him have success.”

Suzuki made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 19:53. Andersen made a sprawling right-pad save on Suzuki at the top the crease, but the forward scored on the rebound.

“Obviously, their goalie played well, but it’s what you give up, too,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said. “It was a couple mishaps in the second, and being down a couple against a goalie who is playing well is never easy.”

Dobes, who improved to 25-8-4, was strong throughout. Early the third period, he stopped Jordan Martinook’s backhand in traffic. Then, with less than four minutes remaining, he made key saves on Jackson Blake and Taylor Hall from the right circle. 

“He’s really finding himself as a goalie in this league,” Suzuki said. “He’s been there for us every single time he’s been in the net. He made some unbelievable saves tonight when we didn’t really have our best game.”

NOTES: Caufield has 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in his past nine games. … Suzuki has 26 points (eight goals, 18 assists) in the past 15 games. … Dobes has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his past five starts (4-1-0). ... The Hurricanes have scored a power play goal in six straight games (8-for-18; 44.4 percent).