Karlsson goal in shootout lifts Senators past Canadiens
OTTAWA -- Defensemen Erik Karlsson scored the deciding goal in a shootout as the Ottawa Senators defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 at Canadian Tire Centre Saturday night.
Karlsson's low shot went in off the post during the fourth round of the tie-breaking process.
The victory improved the Senators record to 2-0-0. The Canadiens are now 1-0-1.
Senators winger Tom Pyatt, a former Canadien, sent the game into overtime when he finished off a three-way passing play with center Jean-Gabriel Pageau and winger Ryan Dzingel by firing a shot high past Habs goalie Al Montoya to tie the score with 2:33 left in regulation.
Rookie winger Artturi Lehkonen and defenseman Jeff Petry scored third-period goals as the Canadiens rallied from a 2-1 third-period deficit to take the lead.
Petry's goal with 11 minutes left in regulation was his second of the night and looked like it would stand as the winner. His blast from the point somehow avoided the crowd in front of the net and beat Senators goalie Craig Anderson.
Lehkonen's goal was his first in the NHL and tied the score 2:30 into the final frame. After a wraparound attempt by winger Phillip Danault was foiled, Lehkonen stepped up and poked the loose puck past Anderson.
Dzingel and Zack Smith also scored for the Senators, who held a 2-0 lead after one period.
Montoya, who was filling in for the flu-bitten No. 1 goalie Carey Price, stopped 35 shots through overtime. Anderson made 21 saves for the Senators.
Dzingel opened the scoring at 6:37 of the first period, just seconds after the Senators' penalty-killing units prevented the Canadiens from getting a shot on goal while Ottawa defenseman Marc Methot served two minutes for interference.
After taking a pass from defensemen Chris Wideman, Dzingel broke in on the left wing with Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov in pursuit. Montoya made a left pad save on his first shot, but Dzingel pushed home the rebound.
Smith had the other goal in the first period, and again it came seconds after the Senators successfully killed a penalty. Wideman had the primary assist again, sending a puck to the high slot for Smith to redirect through a crowd and past Montoya.
The Senators were 10 seconds from killing off their third penalty of the night when Petry fired a shot from the left wing faceoff circle that went in off the far post to cut the deficit in half.
The goal, Petry's first since Feb. 2, was assisted by defenseman Nathan Beaulieu and center Tomas Plekanec.
The Senators outshot the Canadiens 13-6 in the first period and 10-8 in the second.
NOTES: Senators D Thomas Chabot and LW Matt Puempel were healthy scratches for the second straight game. With back-to-back contests coming up Monday and Tuesday, Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said both Chabot and Puempel will make their respective season debuts this week. ... Canadiens D Mikhail Sergachev was scratched after playing in the season opener. ... Montreal D Zach Redmond was a healthy scratch. ... Canadiens C Bryan Flynn missed the game with a neck injury. ... Canadiens D Jeff Petry returned after missing the first game with a knee injury.