Another fantastic atmosphere in the Bell Centre for this one, the towel waving fans making a deafening noise at the start. There had been a goal within the first 3.11 in all 3 games so far, with the team scoring 1st in each game so far going on to win it.
Montreal had the early pressure but it was Boston who had the best chance on around the 4 minute mark. Recchi back handing a shot wide from the slot, the Canadiens allowing him far to much space to get the shot in.
The first goal of the game took a bit longer this time round, the Canadiens scoring it at 8.13. Sopel getting the puck at the point and firing in a slapshot. It touched Kaberle on the way through that ultimately took it past Thomas and into the net.
The Canadiens continued to keep the pressure on the Bruins and Thomas was called upon on numerous occasions to keep the score down to 1. The Montreal crowd were playing their part. The Bruins got a powerplay at 14.24 to try and kill the momentum, the crowd almost acting as the missing player making it an easy kill for Montreal.
Boston had hardly got in the game through the 1st period, being outshot by Montreal 15 to 8
It didn't take them long to get going in the 2nd though. An early goal from Ryder at 2.13 gave the Bruins their equaliser. A fantastic long pass by Kaberle sent Ryder skating in from the blue line and he wristed the shot stick side on Price.
Thomas made an outstanding save to keep the score level with 4 minutes gone and it was all Montreal pressure, Thomas continuing to make the saves. He could do nothing about the go ahead goal at 6.52 though. Cammelleri first had a chance from the slot and just flipped it wide, Gionta picked it up behind the net and got it to Gomez, whose shot was saved by Thomas. Gionta picked up the puck again and this time fired a pass through the crease behind Thomas who was still out from the Gomez shot and Cammelleri tapped it in.
It was 3-1 only 55 seconds later at 7.47 later. Kostitsyn allowed to drive to the net unchallenged, Plekanec enterted the zone and centred to the rushing player who was hard on his stick and took the puck and Thomas into the net.
The Bruins managed to get themselves quickly back into the game and quieten the Bell Center crowd. Ference firing a rifled shot over the glove hand of price at 9.59, a knucklepuck bringing the game back to a 1 goal game.
The Bruins had the game tied up before the end of the period, Recchi hitting a shot wide that Marchand got back through the crease passed the glove hand of Price for Bergeron to tap into the net.
Since Claude Julien called his time out after that 2nd Montreal goal, Boston have somehow managed to kill the momentum of Montreal and drag themselves back into this game.
Montreal were outshooting the Bruins come the end of the 2nd 30-22.
The 3rd period started with only the 2nd penalty of the game called, Bergeron getting called for hooking at 0.27. Montreal scored on the powerplay with Subban firing a wrist shot off the underside of the bar from the face off circle. Thomas was unsighted with Plekanec infront, only 1.39 of the 3rd gone.
A massive scramble 6 minutes in saw Price pull off a number of saves to keep his team in the lead, including a glove save whilst sprawled out on the floor. Kreijc had another chance with 8 minutes gone but as he had Price going from one side to the other he lost the puck off the end of his stick.
Cammelleri then went down the centre of the ice and in on Thomas but hit his shot straight into the chest of the netminder. A fantastic game still going end to end.
Boston got level for the 3rd time with 6.18, Kelly getting his 2nd of the series. The puck was fired in and bounced off a skate infront and Kelly, in the crease tapped it inbetween the legs of Price.
An interference call against Seidenberg with 2.19 to go on the game gave the Canadiens a fantastic chance to get a winner. Montreal got some good control on the puck but Thomas and his defence managed to get their bodies in front of everything fired on goal and the game went into overtime.
It only took 1.59 in to find a winner and it was the Bruins who go it. It ended on a 3 on 1 rush, Peverley firing wide at the net, Kelly picking it up and playing a pass out to Ryder to fire home his 2nd of the game. Price got his pad on the puck but couldn't do enough to keep it out of the net.
Best game of the series so far, possible the best game from the Eastern Conference so far. Both teams playing some good attacking hockey and both netminders making some great saves, even though both conceeded a few goals. Montreal will be kicking themselves. After taking the first 2 games away they blow the next 2 at home, giving up a 2 goal lead at the midway point of this one. They had gathered around 30 shots to that point, they only had 8 in the remainder of the game.
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