Pacioretty's tally in overtime lifts Canadiens past Maple Leafs
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - Max Pacioretty scored with 1:32 to play in overtime as the Montreal Canadiens took a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Toronto goaltender Jonathan Bernier was called for delay of game after coming well out of his crease to cover up the puck at 3:14.
After winning the left circle faceoff, Montreal set up for a blast from P.K. Subban in the high slot. He broke his stick on the shot and didn't get all of the puck. However, it went over to the left side where Andrei Markov centered it for Pacioretty, who lasered a wrister past Bernier for the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I got a bit of a bounce," said Pacioretty. "We caught a guy sleeping there and Markov put it through a screen and that was it."
Pacioretty scored twice, P.K. Subban finished with a goal and an assist, while Alex Galchenyuk also scored for the Canadiens, who have won their first two coming out of the Olympic break. Peter Budaj stopped 22 shots in the win.
James van Riemsdyk scored twice and Phil Kessel had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped both games since the break. Bernier stopped 26 shots.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It was a fast-paced game, up and down the ice," said van Riemsdyk. "I don't think we had the start we wanted but we battled back in the second period."
Montreal got on the board at 12:38 of the opening period as Galchenyuk's turnaround shot from the slot went in through a screen for his 11th of the year.
Just 1:24 later it was 2-0 after Josh Gorges sent a pass from the left point to the slot where Pacioretty threw a turnaround backhander past Bernier.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Toronto got one back at 17:34 of the first after Kessel's shot from the left boards was deflected in by van Riemsdyk.
After a scoreless second period, Toronto was able to tie the game while shorthanded as van Riemsdyk caught up to a clear behind the defense and was able to slip a backhand between the pads of Budaj at 5:28.
"I was adjusting my speed," said van Riemsdyk. "I was pretty tired at the time but I got loose and we went from there."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Maple Leafs then took their first lead of the game at 7:43 as Kessel's snap shot from the inside right circle found its way to the left corner, but Subban tied the game on the power play three minutes later on a one-timer from the left point.
Game Notes
Toronto hosts Columbus on Monday ... Montreal hits the road for the next four games starting in Los Angeles on Monday ... Each team has won twice in the season series ... Montreal went 2-for-5 on the power play, while Toronto failed to score on any of its three chances.