GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MONTREAL (5-4) at PITTSBURGH (5-4)

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 2 1 3
PITTSBURGH 0 2 2 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - MATHIEU DANDENAULT 3 (ANDREI KOSTSITSYN, MIKE
KOMISAREK) 7:13
MON - (PP) ANDREI MARKOV 4 (CHRIS HIGGINS, SAKU KOIVU) 10:53
2ND PRD: MON - MICHAEL RYDER 2 (JOSH GORGES, ROMAN HAMRLIK) 0:49
PIT - (PP) PETR SYKORA 5 (EVGENI MALKIN, ADAM HALL) 3:03
PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 4 (EVGENI MALKIN, RYAN WHITNEY) 8:16

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MON 14 7 21
PIT 6 10 16

GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
PIT - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, DANY SABOURIN (0:49, 2ND)</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Montreal 2 1 --3
Pittsburgh 0 2 --2
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 3 (Andrei
Kostsitsyn, Mike Komisarek), 7:13. 2, Montreal, Andrei Markov 4 (power
play) (Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu), 10:53. Penalties: A Hall, Pit
(hooking), 0:29; M Streit, Mon (tripping), 1:40; J Staal, Pit
(elbowing), 10:42; M Talbot, Pit (holding), 17:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Michael Ryder 2 (Josh Gorges,
Roman Hamrlik), 0:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Petr Sykora 5 (power play)
(Evgeni Malkin, Adam Hall), 3:03. 5, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby 4
(Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Whitney), 8:16. Penalties: S Crosby, Pit
(roughing), 1:49; A Kovalev, Mon (roughing), 1:49; S Crosby, Pit
(hooking), 12:05.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Montreal 14 7 --21
Pittsburgh 6 10 --16
----------------------------------

Goalies : Montreal, Carey Price (16 shots, 14 saves). Pittsburgh,
Marc-Andre Fleury (15 shots, 12 saves), Dany Sabourin (0:49 of 2nd
period, 6, 6). Referees: Dan Marouelli, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: David
Brisebois, Mark Pare.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 2 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 2 7:49 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 2 5:25 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 2 4:11 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 3
3RD PRD: PIT - (PP) RYAN WHITNEY 3 (EVGENI MALKIN, PETR SYKORA) 18:08</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 3RD GOING INTO OT

1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 2 1 0 3
PITTSBURGH 0 2 1 3 GOING INTO OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - MATHIEU DANDENAULT 3 (ANDREI KOSTSITSYN, MIKE
KOMISAREK) 7:13
MON - (PP) ANDREI MARKOV 4 (CHRIS HIGGINS, SAKU KOIVU) 10:53
2ND PRD: MON - MICHAEL RYDER 2 (JOSH GORGES, ROMAN HAMRLIK) 0:49
PIT - (PP) PETR SYKORA 5 (EVGENI MALKIN, ADAM HALL) 3:03
PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 4 (EVGENI MALKIN, RYAN WHITNEY) 8:16
3RD PRD: PIT - (PP) RYAN WHITNEY 3 (EVGENI MALKIN, PETR SYKORA) 18:08

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MON 14 7 4 25
PIT 6 10 6 22

GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
PIT - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, DANY SABOURIN (0:49, 2ND)</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 3 3:15 LEFT, OT</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL 3
PITTSBURGH 3 1:05 LEFT, OT</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL END OF OT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 2 1 0 0 3
PITTSBURGH 0 2 1 0 3 END OF OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - MATHIEU DANDENAULT 3 (ANDREI KOSTSITSYN, MIKE
KOMISAREK) 7:13
MON - (PP) ANDREI MARKOV 4 (CHRIS HIGGINS, SAKU KOIVU) 10:53
2ND PRD: MON - MICHAEL RYDER 2 (JOSH GORGES, ROMAN HAMRLIK) 0:49
PIT - (PP) PETR SYKORA 5 (EVGENI MALKIN, ADAM HALL) 3:03
PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 4 (EVGENI MALKIN, RYAN WHITNEY) 8:16
3RD PRD: PIT - (PP) RYAN WHITNEY 3 (EVGENI MALKIN, PETR SYKORA) 18:08
OT: NONE

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MON 14 7 4 3 28
PIT 6 10 6 0 22

GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
PIT - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, DANY SABOURIN (0:49, 2ND)</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
Montreal 2 1 0 0 --3
Pittsburgh 0 2 1 0 --3
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 3 (Andrei
Kostsitsyn, Mike Komisarek),7:13. 2, Montreal, Andrei Markov 4 (power
play) (Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu)10:53. Penalties: A Hall, Pit
(hooking), 0:29; M Streit, Mon (tripping), 1:40; J Staal, Pit
(elbowing), 10:42; M Talbot, Pit (holding), 17:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Michael Ryder 2 (Josh Gorges,
Roman Hamrlik),0:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Petr Sykora 5 (power play) (Evgeni
Malkin, Adam Hall)3:03. 5, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby 4 (Evgeni Malkin,
Ryan Whitney),8:16. Penalties: S Crosby, Pit (roughing), 1:49; A
Kovalev, Mon (roughing), 1:49; S Crosby, Pit (hooking), 12:05.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 3 (power play)
(Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora)18:08. Penalties: S Gonchar, Pit
(hooking), 6:51; - Bench, Mon (too many men served by A Kostsitsyn),
15:49; S Begin, Mon (slashing), 17:41.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: R Malone, Pit (hooking), 0:15; S Gonchar,
Pit (boarding), 4:58.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Montreal 14 7 4 3 --28
Pittsburgh 6 10 7 0 --23
--------------------------------------------

Goalies : Montreal, Carey Price (23 shots, 20 saves). Pittsburgh,
Marc-Andre Fleury (15 shots, 12 saves), Dany Sabourin (0:49 of 2nd
period, 13, 13). Referees: Dan Marouelli, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: David
Brisebois, Mark Pare.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------------
Montreal 2 1 0 0 (1) --4
Pittsburgh 0 2 1 0 (0) --3
------------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 3 (Andrei
Kostsitsyn, Mike Komisarek),7:13. 2, Montreal, Andrei Markov 4 (power
play) (Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu)10:53. Penalties: A Hall, Pit
(hooking), 0:29; M Streit, Mon (tripping), 1:40; J Staal, Pit
(elbowing), 10:42; M Talbot, Pit (holding), 17:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Michael Ryder 2 (Josh Gorges,
Roman Hamrlik),0:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Petr Sykora 5 (power play) (Evgeni
Malkin, Adam Hall)3:03. 5, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby 4 (Evgeni Malkin,
Ryan Whitney),8:16. Penalties: S Crosby, Pit (roughing), 1:49; A
Kovalev, Mon (roughing), 1:49; S Crosby, Pit (hooking), 12:05.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 3 (power play)
(Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora)18:08. Penalties: S Gonchar, Pit
(hooking), 6:51; - Bench, Mon (too many men served by A Kostsitsyn),
15:49; S Begin, Mon (slashing), 17:41.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: R Malone, Pit (hooking), 0:15; S Gonchar,
Pit (boarding), 4:58.

SHOOTOUT -- Pittsburgh, Erik Christensen (missed),
Darryl Sydor (missed), Sidney Crosby (saved), Jarkko Ruutu (saved),
Evgeni Malkin (saved), Sergei Gonchar (missed), Ryan Whitney (missed),
Mark Recchi (missed). Montreal, Alexei Kovalev (saved), Saku Koivu
(saved), Tomas Plekanec (missed), Mark Streit (saved), Chris Higgins
(saved), Andrei Kostsitsyn (saved), Michael Ryder (missed), Andrei
Markov (goal).

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Montreal 14 7 4 3 --28
Pittsburgh 6 10 7 0 --23
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Pittsburgh - 2 of 4.
Goalies : Montreal, Carey Price (23 shots, 20 saves; record: 1-1-1).
Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury (15 shots, 12 saves), Dany Sabourin
(0:49 of 2nd period, 13, 13; record: 1-1-1). A: NA. Referees: Dan
Marouelli, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Mark Pare.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 4
PITTSBURGH 3</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL IN SHOOTOUT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MONTREAL 2 1 0 0 (1) 4
PITTSBURGH 0 2 1 0 (0) 3 FINAL IN SHOOTOUT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MON - MATHIEU DANDENAULT 3 (ANDREI KOSTSITSYN, MIKE
KOMISAREK) 7:13
MON - (PP) ANDREI MARKOV 4 (CHRIS HIGGINS, SAKU KOIVU) 10:53
2ND PRD: MON - MICHAEL RYDER 2 (JOSH GORGES, ROMAN HAMRLIK) 0:49
PIT - (PP) PETR SYKORA 5 (EVGENI MALKIN, ADAM HALL) 3:03
PIT - SIDNEY CROSBY 4 (EVGENI MALKIN, RYAN WHITNEY) 8:16
3RD PRD: PIT - (PP) RYAN WHITNEY 3 (EVGENI MALKIN, PETR SYKORA) 18:08
OT: NONE
SO: PIT - ERIK CHRISTENSEN (MISSED), DARRYL SYDOR (MISSED),
SIDNEY CROSBY (SAVED), JARKKO RUUTU (SAVED),
EVGENI MALKIN (SAVED), SERGEI GONCHAR (MISSED),
RYAN WHITNEY (MISSED), MARK RECCHI (MISSED)
MTL - ALEXEI KOVALEV (SAVED), SAKU KOIVU (SAVED),
TOMAS PLEKANEC (MISSED), MARK STREIT (SAVED),
CHRIS HIGGINS (SAVED), ANDREI KOSTSITSYN (SAVED),
MICHAEL RYDER (MISSED), ANDREI MARKOV (GOAL)

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: MON - 1 OF 7, PIT - 2 OF 4.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
MON 14 7 4 3 28
PIT 6 10 7 0 23

GOALIES: MON - CAREY PRICE
PIT - MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, DANY SABOURIN (0:49, 2ND)

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, TOM KOWAL
LIN - DAVID BRISEBOIS, MARK PARE

ATT: 17,085</div>

 

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Carey Price certainly has enjoyed facingthe Pittsburgh Penguins in his brief National Hockey Leaguecareer.


Making just his third NHL start, Price stopped all eightattempts he faced in the shootout and defenseman Andrei Markovtallied in the eighth round to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3victory over the Penguins on Saturday.


Price, the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, made 20 savesto post his second win. He turned aside 26 shots in a 3-2triumph over Pittsburgh on October 10.


Price's finest work on Saturday came in the shootout, denyingPittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby in the third round and 2007Calder Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin in the fifth.


Backup goaltender Dany Sabourin, who relieved starter Marc-AndreFleury in the second period, also was up to the task. Afterstopping all 13 shots he faced before the bonus format, Sabourindenied Montreal's first seven shooters before Markov'sbackhander went between his legs to end the game.


Mathieu Dandenault and Markov scored first-period goals andMichael Ryder tallied 49 seconds into the second session tostake the Canadiens to a 3-0 lead.


Dandenault opened the scoring at 7:13 of the first period byblasting a shot over Fleury's left shoulder. For Dandenault, itwas his third goal of the season.


Just under four minutes later, Montreal peppered Fleury withseveral chances before Markov gathered a rebound and backhandedit under the crossbar. Markov's tally, his fourth of theseason, gave the Canadiens a 2-0 bulge.


Montreal increased its advantage at the start of the secondperiod.


Ryder accepted a feed from defenseman Josh Gorges at the redline and skated into the offensive zone. Ryder's wrist shotbeat Fleury over his left shoulder, driving the netminder fromthe game.


The change seemed to fuel the Penguins, who responded just overtwo minutes later.


With Pittsburgh on the power play, Petr Sykora knocked across-ice pass from Malkin out of mid-air, settled the bouncingpuck and fired a wrister that beat Price to the short side.

Crosby halved the deficit five minutes afterward.


After accepting a feed from defenseman Ryan Whitney, Crosbycontrolled the puck as Price came out to play the angle. Crosbyfed Malkin on the wing, but the Russian returned the favor andfound the reigning Hart Trophy winner in the slot, allowing himto beat an out-of-position Price to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Whitney's power-play goal with 1:52 remaining in the thirdleveled the game.


With Montreal serving two penalties, Pittsburgh opted to pullSabourin to create a brief 6-on-3 advantage. Price made onesave but was unsuccessful in stopping Whitney from close range.

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------------
Montreal 2 1 0 0 (1) --4
Pittsburgh 0 2 1 0 (0) --3
------------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 3 (Andrei
Kostsitsyn, Mike Komisarek),7:13. 2, Montreal, Andrei Markov 4 (power
play) (Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu)10:53. Penalties: A Hall, Pit
(hooking), 0:29; M Streit, Mon (tripping), 1:40; J Staal, Pit
(elbowing), 10:42; M Talbot, Pit (holding), 17:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Michael Ryder 2 (Josh Gorges,
Roman Hamrlik),0:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Petr Sykora 5 (power play) (Evgeni
Malkin, Adam Hall)3:03. 5, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby 4 (Evgeni Malkin,
Ryan Whitney),8:16. Penalties: S Crosby, Pit (roughing), 1:49; A
Kovalev, Mon (roughing), 1:49; S Crosby, Pit (hooking), 12:05.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 3 (power play)
(Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora)18:08. Penalties: S Gonchar, Pit
(hooking), 6:51; - Bench, Mon (too many men served by A Kostsitsyn),
15:49; S Begin, Mon (slashing), 17:41.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: R Malone, Pit (hooking), 0:15; S Gonchar,
Pit (boarding), 4:58.

SHOOTOUT -- Pittsburgh, Erik Christensen (missed),
Darryl Sydor (missed), Sidney Crosby (saved), Jarkko Ruutu (saved),
Evgeni Malkin (saved), Sergei Gonchar (missed), Ryan Whitney (missed),
Mark Recchi (missed). Montreal, Alexei Kovalev (saved), Saku Koivu
(saved), Tomas Plekanec (missed), Mark Streit (saved), Chris Higgins
(saved), Andrei Kostsitsyn (saved), Michael Ryder (missed), Andrei
Markov (goal).

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Montreal 14 7 4 3 --28
Pittsburgh 6 10 7 0 --23
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 1 of 7, Pittsburgh - 2 of 4.
Goalies : Montreal, Carey Price (23 shots, 20 saves; record: 2-1-1).
Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury (15 shots, 12 saves), Dany Sabourin
(0:49 of 2nd period, 13, 13; record: 1-0-1). A: 17,085. Referees: Dan
Marouelli, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Mark Pare.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------------------
MONTREAL 2 1 0 0 (1) --4
PITTSBURGH 0 2 1 0 (0) --3
-----------------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Montreal, Mathieu Dandenault 3 (Andrei
Kostsitsyn, Mike Komisarek),7:13. 2, Montreal, Andrei Markov 4 (power
play) (Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu)10:53. Penalties: A Hall, Pit
(hooking), 0:29; M Streit, Mon (tripping), 1:40; J Staal, Pit
(elbowing), 10:42; M Talbot, Pit (holding), 17:47.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Michael Ryder 2 (Josh Gorges,
Roman Hamrlik),0:49. 4, Pittsburgh, Petr Sykora 5 (power play) (Evgeni
Malkin, Adam Hall)3:03. 5, Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby 4 (Evgeni Malkin,
Ryan Whitney),8:16. Penalties: S Crosby, Pit (roughing), 1:49; A
Kovalev, Mon (roughing), 1:49; S Crosby, Pit (hooking), 12:05.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 6, Pittsburgh, Ryan Whitney 3 (power play)
(Evgeni Malkin, Petr Sykora)18:08. Penalties: S Gonchar, Pit
(hooking), 6:51; - Bench, Mon (too many men served by A Kostsitsyn),
15:49; S Begin, Mon (slashing), 17:41.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: None. Penalties: R Malone, Pit (hooking), 0:15; S Gonchar,
Pit (boarding), 4:58.

SHOOTOUT -- Pittsburgh, Erik Christensen (missed),
Darryl Sydor (missed), Sidney Crosby (saved), Jarkko Ruutu (saved),
Evgeni Malkin (saved), Sergei Gonchar (missed), Ryan Whitney (missed),
Mark Recchi (missed). Montreal, Alexei Kovalev (saved), Saku Koivu
(saved), Tomas Plekanec (missed), Mark Streit (saved), Chris Higgins
(saved), Andrei Kostsitsyn (saved), Michael Ryder (missed), Andrei
Markov (goal).

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------------
MONTREAL 14 7 4 3 --28
PITTSBURGH 6 10 7 0 --23
---------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 1 of 7, PIT - 2 of 4. Goalies :
Montreal, Carey Price (23 shots, 20 saves; record: 2-1-1). Pittsburgh,
Marc-Andre Fleury (15 shots, 12 saves), Dany Sabourin (0:49 of 2nd
period, 13, 13; record: 1-0-1). A: 17,085. Referees: Dan Marouelli,
Tom Kowal. Linesmen: David Brisebois, Mark Pare.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL PITTSBURGH
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 0 1 +1 1 T Kennedy 0 0 even 0
T Plekanec 0 0 -1 4 J Staal 0 0 even 1
B Smolinski 0 0 +1 1 R Malone 0 0 even 4
C Higgins 0 1 +1 2 E Christensen 0 0 -1 2
S Begin 0 0 even 1 P Sykora 1 1 even 1
M Dandenault 1 0 +1 1 A Hall 0 1 even 2
J Gorges 0 1 even 0 R Whitney 1 1 +1 1
A Kovalev 0 0 -1 0 C Armstrong 0 0 even 0
K Chipchura 0 0 even 1 M Talbot 0 0 even 0
M Streit 0 0 even 2 M Eaton 0 0 -1 1
R Hamrlik 0 1 +1 1 J Ruutu 0 0 even 1
A Kostsitsyn 0 1 +1 0 R Scuderi 0 0 even 0
F Bouillon 0 0 -1 1 B Orpik 0 0 -1 0
T Kostopoulos 0 0 even 3 D Sydor 0 0 -1 1
M Ryder 1 0 +1 4 S Gonchar 0 0 even 2
A Markov 1 0 +1 3 E Malkin 0 3 -1 3
M Komisarek 0 1 +1 2 M Recchi 0 0 even 3
G Latendresse 0 0 -1 1 S Crosby 1 0 -1 1
P Brisebois HEALTHY G Laraque GROIN
G Murray ANKLE INJURY G Roberts SICK
M Grabovski HEALTHY A Nasreddine HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
MONTREAL 4
PITTSBURGH 3</div>

 

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Carey Price certainly has enjoyed facingthe Pittsburgh Penguins in his brief National Hockey Leaguecareer.


Making just his third NHL start, Price stopped all eightattempts he faced in the shootout and defenseman Andrei Markovtallied in the eighth round to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3victory over the Penguins on Saturday.


Price, the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, made 20 savesto post his second win. He turned aside 26 shots in a 3-2triumph over Pittsburgh on October 10.


Price's finest work on Saturday came in the shootout, denyingPittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby in the third round and 2007Calder Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin in the fifth.


"I got a lot more than a bargained for on that one," Price said."It was pretty fun. I'm glad we came out on top. There werea lot of good shooters. I just tried to make them miss the netor hit me.


"I was a little nervous, but I don't think it was as bad as theWorld Juniors. This was another experience that will help me."

Price led Team Canada to the gold medal at the 2007 World JuniorChampionship in Sweden, compiling a 6-0-0 record with a 1.14goals-against average and two shutouts.


Backup goaltender Dany Sabourin, who relieved starter Marc-AndreFleury in the second period, also was up to the task. Afterstopping all 13 shots he faced before the bonus format, Sabourindenied Montreal's first seven shooters before Markov'sbackhander went between his legs to end the game.


"We played two days in a row and won two games," Markov said."It's a great win for us. All that's important is we got thetwo points and we played a really good game. It's a littletough to play two games in row, but we got two points."

Mathieu Dandenault and Markov scored first-period goals andMichael Ryder tallied 49 seconds into the second session tostake the Canadiens to a 3-0 lead.


Dandenault opened the scoring at 7:13 of the first period byblasting a shot over Fleury's left shoulder. For Dandenault, itwas his third goal of the season.


Just under four minutes later, Montreal peppered Fleury withseveral chances before Markov gathered a rebound and backhandedit under the crossbar. Markov's tally, his fourth of theseason, gave the Canadiens a 2-0 bulge.


Montreal increased its advantage at the start of the secondperiod.


Ryder accepted a feed from defenseman Josh Gorges at the redline and skated into the offensive zone. Ryder's wrist shotbeat Fleury over his left shoulder, driving the netminder fromthe game.


"You have to make sure you're ready if you go in there,"Sabourin said. "It doesn't matter what the score is, you wantto make sure you're ready every time. We always want to beready no matter what."


The change seemed to fuel the Penguins, who responded just overtwo minutes later.


With Pittsburgh on the power play, Petr Sykora knocked across-ice pass from Malkin out of mid-air, settled the bouncingpuck and fired a wrister that beat Price to the short side.

"I think we need to play with more emotion, and I think thatgoal and that power play certainly lifted us a bit and got usback in the game," Crosby said.


Crosby halved the deficit five minutes afterward.


After accepting a feed from defenseman Ryan Whitney, Crosbycontrolled the puck as Price came out to play the angle. Crosbyfed Malkin on the wing, but the Russian returned the favor andfound the reigning Hart Trophy winner in the slot, allowing himto beat an out-of-position Price to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Whitney's power-play goal with 1:52 remaining in the thirdleveled the game.


With Montreal serving two penalties, Pittsburgh opted to pullSabourin to create a brief 6-on-3 advantage. Price made onesave but was unsuccessful in stopping Whitney from close range.

"I think we're definitely just trying to work real hard, butthere's a difference between working hard and working smart,"Whitney said. "Everyone's trying so hard, they want to do agood job, they want to forecheck well, they want to move thepuck well. I don't think it was anyone giving a lack of effort,it was just we've got to work a little smarter."


Although Carey was unable to preserve a three-goal advantage,Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau still was confident that hisgoaltender would prevail.


"That's what Carey does," Carbonneau said. "He was weak on onegoal, but he played strong for a lot of minutes."


Rather than dwell on the loss, Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrienpreferred to look to the future and his team's upcomingfour-game road trip.


"It's early in the season, sometimes it's good to go on theroad," Therrien said. "I think the timing is right for us to goon the road because we can focus better."