TORONTO — As Tomas Plekanec emerged from the shower following the Montreal Canadiens' 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night, he approached a reporter and asked: "How did the other teams do tonight?"

“It’s not good,” was the reply.

The results Thursday night provided an example of the task that lies ahead as the Canadiens battle to earn a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While the Canadiens won a third consecutive game for the first time since Oct. 29, they only moved one point closer to the eighth and final playoff spot because most of the teams ahead of them picked up points.

The New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Florida all won, while New Jersey, Tampa Bay and Washington each picked up a point while losing in overtime or a shootout.

The one exception was the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will be home to the Canadiens on Saturday at the Air Canada Centre. The Leafs lost to Philadelphia in regulation and dropped to eighth place in the East with 62 points, nine more than the Canadiens.

The last time the Canadiens and Leafs met was on Jan. 21 at the ACC, and the Canadiens were 3-1 winners. That cut Toronto’s lead over Montreal to eight points, but the Leafs have a 5-2-1 record since that game and the Canadiens are 5-3-0.

The bad news for the Canadiens is that the final playoff spot is a movable target. Ottawa was in eighth place Thursday, and the Leafs are there now. Florida and Washington are battling for the Southeast Division lead and the top-three seed that goes with it. The second-place team in that division is out of the playoffs at the moment.

The good news is that the Canadiens do have fate in their own hands because of the schedule. Saturday’s game is one of three pitting the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs down the stretch. The final two games are at the Bell Centre, although home ice hasn’t been an advantage for the Canadiens this season.

Ottawa is 10 points up on Montreal, but the teams play each other twice and the Canadiens also have two games in hand. The Canadiens also have two games each remaining against Florida and Washington. Every one of those games gives the Canadiens a chance to earn points, while depriving a rival of those same points.

“We can’t worry about anyone else,” Scott Gomez said after he ended a yearlong goal drought Thursday with the game-winner on Long Island. “We have to win every game.”

Coach Randy Cunneyworth said consistency is the key to turning things around, and he was pleased to see his team dominate the Islanders, one of those NHL have-nots who bring out the worst in the Canadiens.

Cunneyworth said earlier in the week that pride was a motivating factor when his team beats Pittsburgh or Detroit, but the Canadiens can’t reserve that pride for special occasions.

The Canadiens enjoyed a day off Friday, but it wasn’t a reward for winning on Long Island. They have simply reached the point in the season when rest can be more important than practice.

Carey Price is expected to make another start in goal Saturday, and Cunneyworth is expected to continue dressing seven defencemen.

Toronto coach Ron Wilson said goaltenders Jonas Gustavsson and James Reimer have both played well and he’ll decide on a starter Saturday.

The Canadiens are back home to play Carolina on Monday night, with the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre on Wednesday.

Montreal Gazette

phickey@montrealgazette.com