For the second straight night, the Florida Panthers got off to a slow start. Unlike the Canadiens, the Islanders did not take advantage. Yet, as was the case Tuesday in Boston, it was Florida’s third period which ended up doing the damage.

The Islanders erased a two-goal deficit with four third-period goals in a 4-2 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not want to publicly rip his team’s effort Saturday night in Montreal. Doing so, he reasoned, would take away from a spirited, hard-fought, and well earned win by a Canadiens team fighting for every point it can get in a razor-thin playoff race.

Cole Caufield scored his team-leading 33rd goal and added an assist to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 3-1.