The Bruins held a 2-goal lead with just over a two minutes left to play in the third period, but gave up two goals in the final minutes of regulation to send the game to overtime. Max Pacioretty netted the game-winner in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens downed the Bruins 3-2 at Bell Centre on Saturday night.
Patrice Bergeron gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 4:18 of the second period when he shoveled in a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle off of a feed from Blake Wheeler.
Bergeron added a second goal with 7:32 left to play in the middle period. Mark Recchi tried to gather the puck with his back to goal at the top of the crease off of a rebound from Zdeno Chara's point shot before Patrice Bergeron grabbed the loose puck and found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.
The Canadiens appeared to pull within one with just over 12 minutes left in the third period, but the goal was quickly waived off when it was determined on the ice that Mathieu Darche played the goal with a high stick. The play went to video review and the call on the ice of "no goal" was upheld.
Montreal made it a 2-1 game for real on a flukey power play goal with 2:22 left in the third period after a tripping call on Michael Ryder. Scott Gomez tried to make a pass to Mathieu Darche from the left wing boards. The puck jumped over the stick of Darche and the slow-moving puck somehow made it past the stick of Tim Thomas. Gomez was given credit for the goal.
With Montreal goalie Carey Price pulled in favor of the extra attacker, the Habs tied it up at 1-1 with 47.7 seconds left on a goal from Brian Gionta. James Wisniewski's shot from the high slot deflected off the undersized forward in front for his 15th goal of the season.
A hooking call on Blake Wheeler 10 seconds into overtime gave the Habs a 4-3 power play, but the B's were able to kill off the minor penalty. The Bruins looked like they were able to swing the momentum after the penalty kill, but with 1:17 left in OT, Max Pacioretty ripped a snap shot from the high slot that beat Tim Thomas for the game-winner. After the goal, Pacioretty skated towards the goal to celebrate with his teammates and gave Chara a little shove on the way. The push by Pacioretty, sent Chara into a rage and a little scrum ensued as the officials tried to separate Chara from anyone in a red sweater who was willing to dance.
Notes:
- Nathan Horton sat out tonight with an undisclosed injury.
- Tim Thomas made 39 saves in the loss.
- Adam McQuaid dropped (or more accurately, wildly threw) the gloves with Travis Moen late in the first period. Moen scored some early shots, but McQuaid pounded away on Moen with several hard short lefts while holding on to Moen's collar with the same hand.
- Zdeno Chara and Hal Gill were given 10 minute misconducts for their parts in the post-game scrum...not that it mattered.
- Montreal out-shot the Bruins 42-29, including 18-8 in the third penalty. The Bruins sat back too much in the third trying to defend the lead and let Montreal carry the play.
- Uncharacteristically, Patrice Bergeron won just 30% of the face-offs he took tonight (7 of 23).
- The Bruins don't deserve a point for that choke job, but thankful the communism that is the "New NHL" gives the Bruins a point, which keeps them in first place.
- Mike Cammalleri left the game with an undisclosed injury.
- For more on tonight's game, head over to Habs Eyes On The Prize
- The Bruins now head to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Monday night.