Sun Apr 13 22:36:14 2008

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Bruins trim Montreal's series lead to 2-1 on Savard's OT winner

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Marc Savard's first career playoff goal at the 9:25 mark of overtime lifted Boston to a 2-1 win over Montreal, and cut the Bruins' deficit in this Eastern Conference quarterfinal series to 2-1.

A long ricochet resulted in a Boston rush that forced Montreal to scramble back into defensive position about midway through the extra session. A penalty was called, but play went on, and the Bruins were working the puck around the left circle.

But almost unnoticed was Savard coming in from the right point, and Dennis Wideman dished a backhand pass that Savard blasted into the open net. Montreal goaltender Carey Price - along with almost everyone else on the ice - was concentrating on the movement in the left circle, and was out of position to make the save.

Milan Lucic scored the other goal for Boston, which not only avoided falling further behind in the best-of-seven series, but snapped a 13-game losing streak against Montreal.

Tim Thomas stopped all six shots he faced in the extra session, and turned aside 27 overall for the Bruins, who rebounded from an overtime loss in Game 2 on Saturday.

Tom Kostopoulos had Montreal's lone tally, and the rookie Price was solid in net, making 29 saves.

Boston, which had never led in the series until Game 3, cracked the scoreboard first with an early goal. With the puck bouncing along the right boards, Savard got control and sent a centering pass to the slot.

Lucic was there with no one around, and snapped the puck past Price at 6:30 for a one-goal Boston edge.

But shortly into the middle frame, Kostopoulos forced in the equalizer. He charged in from the right of the crease and attempted a backhander. But with a Boston defender standing in front of the crease, and Thomas drifting out to challenge his shot, Kostopoulos started to fall and lost control of the puck.

Still, he managed to get his stick back to the forehand and swing the disc into the open net at 4:26 for his second goal of the postseason.

Thomas, though, stopped 10 other shots, and Price turned aside all nine he faced in the second.

In the third period, Montreal managed just four shots and Boston seven, but some of them were dangerous chances. Twice the Canadiens had a man stationed in front of the net for a redirection, but both times the puck was just off the mark.

Then, with a little more than nine minutes left, the Bruins had perhaps their best chance to regain the lead. A counter attack resulted in a 2-on-1, but the resulting Boston shot was gloved by Price.

In the extra period, Montreal had the best chances early on. About 2 1/2 minutes in, Thomas stopped a close-range Kostopoulos shot with his left leg, and a little more than five minutes in, Thomas had to glove the puck out of the air to stop play.

Game Notes

Game 4 is set for Tuesday night at TD Banknorth Garden...The Bruins were 0- for-5 on the power play, while the Canadiens were 0-for-4 with the man advantage.