
BOSTON, April 16 (UPI) -- Zdeno Chara scored the go-ahead goal with 8:45 to play Thursday and the Boston Bruins opened the playoffs with a 4-2 decision over Montreal.
Boston won all three regular-season home games against the Canadiens, but let an early two-goal lead get away and found itself tied as the contest entered the final half of the third period.
With Josh Gorges in the penalty box for cross-checking, Chara blasted a slapshot past Carey Price for the game-winner. Phil Kessel, who had opened the scoring with 6:49 to play in the first period, added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds to play.
Tim Thomas made 26 saves for the win.
Boston and Montreal are meeting in the opening round for the second straight year. Montreal was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season and eventually prevailed in a seven-game series against the eighth-seeded Bruins. This year, the roles are reversed.
Montreal has won three straight playoff series from the Bruins (2002, 2004, 2008), who are looking for their first Stanley Cup title in 37 years.
Montreal rallied from its 2-0 deficit on goals by Christopher Higgins with 3:41 to play in the first period and Alexei Kovalev with 2:23 remaining in the second.
The second game of the series is set for Saturday in Boston.
|
|
|
| Additional Sports News Stories | |
BELLEFONTE, Pa., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Jerry Sandusky, the ex-Penn State assistant football coach charged with child sex abuse, can have contact with most of his grandchildren, a judge ruled Monday.
|
NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
A funeral is being planned for songstress Whitney Houston in her hometown of Newark, N.J., later this week, sources close to her family told NBC New York.
|
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Electric cars in China are having an impact on pollution more harmful to health than gasoline vehicles, U.S. researchers say.
|
NEWPORT, R.I., Feb. 13 (UPI) --
Lottery officials said Monday the winning $336.4 million Powerball ticket was sold at a Rhode Island convenience store, but the winner had yet to come forward.
|
| Stories | Photos | People | Comments |
View Caption