Sapphire Tidier had a goal and an assist in the first half and Evan Bush made nine saves as the Montreal Impact improved their playoff chances with a 3-0 defeat over the visiting Columbus Crew on Saturday.
The Impact (13-15-4, 43 points) moved five points ahead of D.C. United for the last postseason spot in the Eastern Conference with two matches left. D.C. United has five matches remaining starting Sunday at home versus Chicago.
Columbus (13-10-9, 48) would have clinched a berth with a win or tie but remains fourth in East for now.
Sapphire scored on a penalty kick in the 32nd minute and then set up the fifth goal of the season for Alejandro Silva in the 44th for the two-goal lead. Ignacio Patti scored his 14th goal in the 59th minute as Montreal rebounded from a 5-0 loss to D.C. in its last outing.
Columbus, the second-lowest scoring team in MLS with 39 goals, is 0-7-1 on the road when allowing the first score. The Crew has been blanked 12 times.
Bush was tested early but earned his ninth shutout. He made the first of four saves in the opening half on a shot from the middle of the box by Harrison Awful in the 14th minute. A minute later, Bush denied a Pedro Santos strike from distance.
Montreal took the 1-0 lead after video review ruled that Crew defender Josh Williams was guilty of a handball. Tidier converted for his seventh goal. Silva scored when he raced through the middle of the defense before shooting.
Columbus is at Orlando City on Oct. 21 for its last away match of the regular season. On the same day, Montreal hosts Toronto FC in its home finale.