NHL: Montreal 5, Minnesota 4 (SO)

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MONTREAL, March 1 (UPI) -- David Desharnais scored the only goal of the shootout in the second round Thursday, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-4 victory over Minnesota.

The Canadiens let a three-goal lead get away in the third period but Desharnais rescued Montreal by avoiding a poke check attempt by goaltender Josh Harding and then flipping a backhander into the net.

Montreal halted a five-game losing streak.

Desharnais scored 8:50 into the third period to give Montreal a seemingly comfortable 4-1 lead.

Minnesota then produced three goals in the span of 3:43 and tied it on Devin Setoguchi's slap shot with 10 seconds left in regulation. Matt Kassian and Dany Heatley also scored in the late flurry that at least salvaged a point for the Wild in their bid to make the playoffs.

Minnesota is five points out of the eighth and final post-season berth in the Western Conference.

P.K. Subban and Lars Eller scored for the Canadiens in the opening period and the lone second-period goal from Max Pacioretty gave Montreal a 3-1 advantage.

The win went to Carey Price, who made 26 saves. Harding replaced Niklas Backstrom after the Minnesota goaltender left the game in the first period with an apparent leg injury.