Markov’s OT goal lifts Canadiens past Devils
After loss, Habs win third straight
CANADIENS 4 DEVILS 3 OT
MONTREAL • Andrei Markov scored 4:22 into overtime on a power play as the Montreal Canadiens recovered from wasting a two-goal lead to defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Sunday night.
Markov was at the edge of the crease to lift the rebound of Rene Bourque’s shot off the end boards into an open side for his fourth goal in as many games this season. The Canadiens went on the man advantage after Andy Greene took down Erik Cole going to the net at 4:01.
Brendan Gallagher scored his first NHL goal and linemate Brandon Prust got his first as a Canadien, while Ryan White also scored for Montreal ( 3-1- 0), which has won three in a row. The 18-year-old Alex Galchenyuk had a pair of assists.
The Canadiens took a 3-1 lead early in the third period, but David Clarkson scored on a power play and Dainius Zubrus tied the game at 13:02. Patrik Elias also scored for New Jersey (3-0-1).
Elias and Clarkson each had three points.
The Canadiens posted a rare win over veteran goalie Martin Brodeur, who is 43-195 against Montreal in his career.
Montreal had a 32-25 shots advantage, including 16-7 in the opening period when the Habs took a 2-0 lead.
The Canadiens were first on the puck from the outset and scored 2:25 into the game when Alexei Emelin’s shot was tipped by Travis Moen and went off Brodeur to White for his first of the season.
Emelin flipped the puck to the far blue line where Greene lost it to Galchenyuk, who slipped a pass into the slot for the onrushing Gallagher to fire into an open side at 13:35. It was a first goal in three NHL games for the 20-year-old.
The roles reversed in the second period as New Jersey camped out in Montreal’s end and got a goal at 3:26 when Elias tipped a Mark Fayne pint shot past Carey Price after some strong work in the corner by Clarkson.
Galchenyuk intercepted a clearing attempt and slipped the puck ahead to Prust to bat in two minutes into the third period.
But Galchenyuk and Prust were both off for high-sticking when Clarkson banged in an Elias feed during a two-man advantage at 5:23. Zubrus tied it at 13:02 on a feed from behind the net by Elias.