NHL: Carolina 2, Montreal 1 (OT)

MONTREAL, April 27 (UPI) -- Eric Staal scored 3:38 into overtime Wednesday night as Carolina topped the Montreal Canadiens, 2-1, in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal.

Rod Brind'Amour scored a goal midway through the third period to force the extra session; Bret Hedican had two assists; and Cam Ward made 27 saves on 28 shots for the second-seeded Hurricanes, who lost the first two games in the best-of-seven on their home ice.

Richard Zednik scored his team's lone goal in the second period on assists from Michael Ryder and Sheldon Souray; while Cristobal Huet made 34 saves for the seventh-seeded Canadiens, who will host Game Four on Friday night.