HabsWorld.net -- 

Saturday night the Canadiens won a game despite being outplayed for most of the evening by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Habs were given a taste of their own medicine Monday night as the Bruins scored the eleventh and decisive with less than two minutes remaining in the third period.

The Canadiens begun the game steadily outplaying the Bruins but were only able to capitalize once in the first frame despite out shooting and chancing Boston. Guillaume Latendresse scored his 5th goal of the season, Michael Ryder and Saku Koivu picked up assists. Glen Murray would tie the game at 16:38, Murray banked the puck off of Huet from behind the net. Less than two minutes later Brad Boyes split Habs defenseman Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek with a pass to Marco Sturm who squeaked one past Huet for his fifth of the season.

The second period begun as the first ended with the Bruins scoring goals less than two minutes apart. Marc Savard intercepted a Francis Bouillon clearing attempt and set up Shean Donovan who was left wide open by Alex Kovalev who escorted him to the net. Kovalev made no attempt to prevent the pass or stop the shot. Eighty four seconds later while killing a penalty Brad Stuart stole the puck from Markov, Wayne Primeau gathered the puck and potted the Bruins 3rd short handed goal of the season. Cristobal Huet was then pulled for the first time this season.

David Aebischer came in and that sparked the Canadiens as they went on to dominate the remainder of the period. Michael Ryder got things going by scoring his seventh goal of the season on the power play. In the final five minutes the Canadiens third line was dominate controlling the play and scoring two goals. Mike Johnson ended a nine game goalless drought and Alexander Perezhogin scored his second goal in as many games to tie the game heading to the third period.

Mid-way through the final frame after two consecutive icing calls against the Canadiens fourth line, Dave Lewis sent out the Bruins top line. Marc Savard won the face-off back to Brad Stuart who blasted a shot which deflected off Sheldon Souray foot into the back of the net. Souray would redeem himself minutes later on the power play snapping a shot into the top corner notching his team leading 10th goal of the season.

But Brad Stuart was not finished just yet, he brought down Michel Ryder in the defensive zone and let a rush up ice, moments later he blasted another point shot passed Aebischer. The Canadiens would proceed to take a too many men on the ice penalty too all but wrap up the Bruins victory.

Three Stars

1. Brad Stuart- A short handed assist and two goals, not too bad for defenseman who had just 5 points entering tonight’s game.

2. Marc Savard- Three assists and the best centre man in the ice for the Bruins.

3. Alexander Perezhogin- increased his team leading +/- to a +13 while adding a goal and an assist he was the Canadiens best player all night long.

Fun Facts

1. Alexander Perezhogin scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time since his first two NHL games against the new York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

2. Alex Kovalev was a -3 for the second time this season, not once last season did he reach that mark.

3. The Canadiens third line which has been excellent at both ends of the ice all year had another spectacular game shutting down Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron was held pointless for the first time in nine games.