MONTREAL, March 30 (UPI) -- Oleg Petrov scored 92 seconds into overtime Saturday night as the Montreal Canadiens kept a share of eighth place in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Defenseman Patrice Brisebois fired a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that Petrov perfectly redirected into the net from just above the crease for his 24th goal.
Pittsburgh fell to 0-4-1-1 in its last six visits to the Molson Centre.
Montreal opened the scoring just over eight minutes into the first period on defenseman Karl Dykhuis' goal.
Dykhuis skated into the Penguins' zone and cut to the slot. Joe Juneau made a perfect pass from the right point to Dykhuis, who skated around defenseman Jamie Pushor and slipped a backhander past goaltender Johan Hedberg.
The Penguins got a goal from one of their defensemen to even the score.
With Pittsburgh on the power play, Michal Rozsival skated toward the net and blasted a slapper over goalie Jose Theodore's left shoulder for his second goal in three games.
Montreal appeared to score the go-ahead goal with 1:52 remaining in regulation when defenseman Craig Rivet ripped a slap shot past Hedberg. But referee Dave Jackson immediately waved it off, ruling that Canadiens right wing Donald Audette interfered with Hedberg. Replays indicated no contact was made.
Audette returned to the lineup after missing 49 games with torn tendons in his left forearm, an injury that had been considered career-threatening.
The win gave the Canadiens 77 points, keeping them even with Washington in the race for the final playoff spot in the East. The Capitals have two more wins but have played one more game.
