Thursday, Mar. 22 7:00pm ET
Canadiens can't capitalize in third period
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BOSTON (AP) – Brian Rolston didn't see his winning goal that
kept Boston's playoff chances from fading.
His 20-foot shot through a screen at 2:49 of overtime Thursday
night gave the Bruins a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens that
drew them within two points of the final Eastern Conference playoff
spot.
|  | | Byron Dafoe makes one of his 15 saves on Canadiens center Craig Darby in the second period. The Bruins pulled within two points of Carolina for the No. 8 spot. |
"We've got to take every game like a playoff game," Rolston
said. "Every game is huge for us."
Boston, with 75 points and nine games left, is chasing Carolina,
which has 10 to play starting with Friday night's home contest
against Pittsburgh.
"The win puts a little more heat on the Hurricanes," Boston
goalie Byron Dafoe said. "Hopefully, they'll stumble somewhere
along the way."
The Bruins stumbled twice Thursday night, losing leads of 1-0
and 2-1 as the Canadiens scored on two power plays.
Their second goal, Saku Koivu's 15th of the season at 16:33 of
the second period, followed a roughing penalty against Andrei
Nazarov, apparently for knocking over the net while being nudged
from behind.
"I don't know where Nazarov's penalty came from," Dafoe said.
"We got redemption with (the officials) calling one in overtime
for us."
Former Bruin Patrick Traverse said he didn't think he deserved
his tripping penalty 46 seconds into overtime and called it "a
makeup call."
From that point, Boston dominated. Goalie Jose Theodore stopped
the first three shots before Rolston scored his 17th goal from just
inside the right circle three seconds after the penalty ended but
before Traverse could get back in the play.
"I got my own rebound off a guy's shinpad," Rolston said. "I
really didn't see it. I just saw guys lifting their arms and that
was an indication. There were so many people in front of the net."
Moments later, all the Bruins gathered in a huge mass at center
ice to celebrate the victory.
"The Bruins came out strong and physical and were dominating in
the first period," Koivu said, "but we matched them in the second
and third."
Jason Allison and Bill Guerin each had a goal and two assists
for Boston.
With the score 2-2 after the second period, the Canadiens had
the only two power plays of the third period, but managed just one
shot.
Allison had given Boston a 1-0 lead with his 30th goal 1:27 in
before Patrice Brisebois tied it at 14:13. Guerin's 37th goal put
the Bruins ahead 2-1 at 7:43 of the second period, but Koivu tied
it on a pass from Brian Savage.
Game notes
The Bruins have outshot opponents 42-13 in the first period
of their last three games and have power-play goals in their last
eight. ... In a pregame ceremony, Guerin received the Seventh
Player Award, voted by fans for performing beyond expectations. His
37th goal extended his career-high for goals in a season. ...
Savage has one goal and four assists in his three games since
missing the previous 36 with a fractured thumb. ... Allison's goal
gave the Bruins three 30-goal scorers for the first time in seven
seasons. He joins Guerin and Joe Thornton, who has 31 goals.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Montreal Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
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Boston 3
Montreal 2
Detroit 4
Minnesota 2
Atlanta 2
Tampa Bay 0
Nashville 2
Chicago 1
Colorado 3
St. Louis 1
Calgary 3
Philadelphia 1
Ottawa 2
San Jose 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Brian Rolston's overtime goal gives the Bruins the much-needed victory.
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