GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MONTREAL (0-0) at CAROLINA (0-0)

By Joe Johnson
PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer


RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- When the Montreal Canadiensneeded him most, captain Saku Koivu came through.


<div class="pre">Koivu scored two goals - including the winner in overtime and</div>Cristobal Huet made 29 saves as the Canadiens edged the CarolinaHurricanes, 3-2, on Wednesday in the regular-season opener forboth teams.


Koivu capitalized on Carolina defenseman Niclas Wallin'scross-checking penalty in the opening minute of overtime. TheFinn took a feed from Chris Higgins and fired a snap shot fromthe slot, which found its way to the back of the net at 1:05 togive Montreal its third power-play goal of the night.

"I think, at this point, to get the first win, obviously, isimportant," Koivu said. "You build confidence with every win,and when you play a tough team like them, it is a good thing."

"We've got to try and stay out of the box as much as we can,"Carolina's Erik Cole said. "You're not going to win games ifyou're giving teams multiple opportunities at the end of games."

Koivu helped Montreal snap a 1-1 tie midway through the thirdsession on the power play, beating goaltender Cam Ward to theglove side. The captain took a feed from defenseman AndreiMarkov and flicked a snap shot into the top corner of the net.

"Getting the first goal early in the season, it takes it awayfrom your mind," Koivu said. "Obviously, it's easier to go fromthere."


It did not take long for the Hurricanes to answer, however.Defenseman Bret Hedican sent a blistering wrist shot from thetop of the slot past Huet to tie the game at 2-2 with 7:12remaining.


Huet was outstanding all night. After surrendering a power-playgoal early in the contest, the French netminder denied Carolinauntil Hedican's late tally. Huet's night was highlighted by abrillant stick save in the opening period.


"I think, especially in the first 30 minutes of the game, theyhad some chances," Huet said. "We stayed patient for our goodopportunities, and I think in the third period we took controlof the game."


The Hurricanes capitalized on an early man advantage when Coledeflected Eric Staal's one-timer from above the right faceoffcircle past Huet at 3:37 for a 1-0 edge. It was Cole's 13thgoal in 18 career games against the Canadiens.


Montreal responded on the power play at 13:01 as blue-liner MarkStreit's slap shot found its way over the glove of Ward to eventhe contest at 1-1.


The Hurricanes squandered two 5-on-3 advantages in the first twoperiods and the Canadiens were unable to take advantage of afour-minute power play in the second after Ryan Bayda picked upa high-sticking double minor.


Ward stopped 37 shots for Carolina, which had won seven of itsprevious eight meetings with Montreal.


"It seemed like in the third period, we fell back on our heels alittle bit until they scored that goal," Ward said. "Afterthey scored, we started to get our legs again. They came outwith a purpose in the third period, and it looked like they werea little more desperate at the beginning of the period. It'stough when you're on the penalty kill in overtime."

The setback marked the fifth consecutive season the Hurricaneshave lost their season opener.


Markov notched a pair of assists for the Canadiens.

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

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

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Carolina, Eric Staal 1 (power play) (Scott
Walker, Frantisek Kaberle)3:37. 2, Montreal, Mark Streit 1 (power
play) (Andrei Markov, Alexei Kovalev)13:01. Penalties: A Kovalev, Mon
(hooking), 1:51; M Ryder, Mon (holding), 9:13; A Ladd, Car (holding
stick), 12:02; M Komisarek, Mon (hooking), 15:12; M Streit, Mon
(holding), 16:07; R Brind'Amour, Car (goalie interference), 17:16; P
Brisebois, Mon (delay of game), 17:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (interference), 3:27; C
Higgins, Mon (delay of game), 4:21; R Bayda, Alb (double minor high
sticking), 10:44; B Hedican, Car (hooking), 19:50.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Saku Koivu 1 (power play) (Andrei
Markov)9:31. 4, Carolina, Bret Hedican 1 (Justin Williams, Rod
Brind'Amour),12:38. Penalties: - Bench, Car (too many men served by R
Bayda), 6:01; N Wallin, Car (tripping), 9:13; R Brind'Amour, Car
(roughing), 17:59; S Begin, Mon (roughing), 17:59.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Montreal, Saku Koivu 2 (power play) (Chris
Higgins, Michael Ryder)1:05. Penalties: N Wallin, Car (high
sticking), 0:46.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Montreal 8 12 18 2 --40
Carolina 13 9 9 0 --31
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Montreal - 3 of 8, Carolina - 1 of 7. Goalies
: Montreal, Cristobal Huet (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-0-0).
Carolina, Cam Ward (40 shots, 37 saves; record: 0-1-0). A: 18,680.
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Mark Pare.</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------------
MONTREAL 1 0 1 1 --3
CAROLINA 1 0 1 0 --2
-----------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Carolina, Eric Staal 1 (power play) (Scott
Walker, Frantisek Kaberle)3:37. 2, Montreal, Mark Streit 1 (power
play) (Andrei Markov, Alexei Kovalev)13:01. Penalties: A Kovalev, Mon
(hooking), 1:51; M Ryder, Mon (holding), 9:13; A Ladd, Car (holding
stick), 12:02; M Komisarek, Mon (hooking), 15:12; M Streit, Mon
(holding), 16:07; R Brind'Amour, Car (goalie interference), 17:16; P
Brisebois, Mon (delay of game), 17:55.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: B Smolinski, Mon (interference), 3:27; C
Higgins, Mon (delay of game), 4:21; R Bayda, Alb (double minor high
sticking), 10:44; B Hedican, Car (hooking), 19:50.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Montreal, Saku Koivu 1 (power play) (Andrei
Markov)9:31. 4, Carolina, Bret Hedican 1 (Justin Williams, Rod
Brind'Amour),12:38. Penalties: - Bench, Car (too many men served by R
Bayda), 6:01; N Wallin, Car (tripping), 9:13; R Brind'Amour, Car
(roughing), 17:59; S Begin, Mon (roughing), 17:59.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 5, Montreal, Saku Koivu 2 (power play) (Chris
Higgins, Michael Ryder)1:05. Penalties: N Wallin, Car (high
sticking), 0:46.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------------
MONTREAL 8 12 18 2 --40
CAROLINA 13 9 9 0 --31
---------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: MON - 3 of 8, CAR - 1 of 7. Goalies :
Montreal, Cristobal Huet (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-0-0).
Carolina, Cam Ward (40 shots, 37 saves; record: 0-1-0). A: 18,680.
Referees: Gord Dwyer, Kerry Fraser. Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Mark Pare.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

MONTREAL CAROLINA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
S Koivu 2 0 even 4 J Williams 0 1 +1 2
T Plekanec 0 0 -1 1 E Staal 1 0 even 7
B Smolinski 0 0 even 2 R Whitney 0 0 +1 3
C Higgins 0 1 even 6 A Ladd 0 0 even 2
S Begin 0 0 even 3 R Brind'Amour 0 1 +1 3
M Dandenault 0 0 even 2 R Bayda 0 0 even 1
A Kovalev 0 1 even 2 G Wesley 0 0 even 0
M Streit 1 0 -1 4 M Commodore 0 0 even 1
R Hamrlik 0 0 even 2 S Walker 0 1 even 0
A Kostitsyn 0 0 even 1 E Cole 0 0 even 2
F Bouillon 0 0 -1 2 C Adams 0 0 even 0
M Grabovski 0 0 even 1 T Gleason 0 0 even 0
T Kostopoulos 0 0 -1 2 F Kaberle 0 1 +1 1
P Brisebois 0 0 even 2 J Hamilton 0 0 even 3
M Ryder 0 1 even 4 C LaRose 0 0 even 1
A Markov 0 2 even 1 B Hedican 1 0 +1 2
M Komisarek 0 0 even 1 N Wallin 0 0 even 1
G Latendresse 0 0 -1 0 M Cullen 0 0 even 2
G Murray HEALTHY T Letowski HEALTHY
J Gorges HEALTHY C Stillman HEALTHY
K Chipchura HEALTHY D Seidenberg HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MONTREAL at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NHL MONTREAL AT CAROLINA
NOTE: RESENDING TO CORRECT SHOTS OF STAAL</div>