(My Sportsbook) - It will be difficult for the Atlanta Thrashers to move into playoff contention because of just how poorly they played early in the season.

That doesn't mean Bob Hartley's troops aren't ready to make a little noise, though.

Marc Savard's second goal of the game with under two minutes remaining in the third period gave the Thrashers a 4-3 victory over Montreal at the Bell Centre Tuesday night.

Brad Tapper and Jeff Cowan also scored for the Thrashers, who improved to 4-1-1 in their last six games.

"Every game is a Game 7 right now, that's my message," Hartley, who took over behind the bench on January 14, said. "We are so far behind, but if ever we put a streak on that would basically be the only way to get in.

"But right now, it's just to keep improving, try to play every game to win and see what happens."

With 43 points, Atlanta is 14th in the Eastern Conference -- 12 behind Tampa Bay, which holds the eighth and final playoff spot at the moment.

Atlanta was awarded a power play with 2:15 left in the third period and the Thrashers took advantage to score the game-winner. Savard gained control of the puck deep in the Canadiens' zone after a faceoff. He tried to pass across the front of the net, but the puck deflected off Canadiens defenseman Stephane Quintal and past Jose Theodore with 1:36 remaining.

The Canadiens pulled Theodore for an extra skater, but Atlanta held on for the victory.

The Thrashers jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Tapper's 10th goal of the season at 5:01 of the opening period. Ilya Kovalchuk set up the score, carrying the puck down the left wing and into the Canadiens' zone before sliding a pass to the slot for Tapper, who beat Theodore to the stick side with a wrist shot.

Montreal evened the score just 23 seconds later on Andreas Dackell's fifth of the season. Pasi Nurminen made the save on a shot by Joe Juneau from the top of the right circle, but Dackell fired home the rebound.

Savard gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead at 3:16 of the second period with his eighth goal of the season.

A turnover by the Canadiens led to Cowan's first goal of the season and gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead at 5:47 of the second period. Montreal defenseman Patrice Brisebois gave the puck away and Dan Snyder was able to gain possession in the left circle. Cowan accepted the pass from Snyder and beat Theodore from the top of the crease.

Jan Bulis pulled the Canadiens to within a goal late in the second period and Niklas Sundstrom tied the game at 6:41 of the third.

UP NEXT

The Thrashers will visit New Jersey on Friday, and Ottawa the next night. Currently those teams share the Eastern Conference lead with 71 points.