Canadiens clinch Atlantic Division title with win over Panthers

The Montreal Canadiens are the Atlantic Division champions once again.

The Canadiens clinched the division title with a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Monday night, ensuring their second Atlantic crown in the last three seasons while officially dethroning the Panthers, who won it in 2015-16.

Montreal, which led the Atlantic nearly from start to finish, holds an eight-point advantage on the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. While the Leafs have a game in hand, they would need five regulation or overtime wins to tie the Canadiens, but only have four games left.

It's the first division championship for the Canadiens since they went 50-22-10 in 2014-15.

Montreal is 46-24-9 with three games remaining in its regular-season schedule.