Late-game heroics lift Habs past Devils
Desharnais scores tying goal, then another in shootout
CANADIENS 4, DEVILS 3
NEWARK, N.J. The New Jersey Devils struggled to slow down David Desharnais on Wednesday.
Desharnais scored the tying goal with 37 seconds left in the third period and added a goal in the shootout and the Montreal Canadiens rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Devils.
“We’re finding ways to win games,” Desharnais said. “They took the lead and we had to open up things. I just go in there and try to score (in the shootout). (Devils goalie Cory Schneider) opened up his leg and I put it right there.”
Desharnais’ tying goal in the third was reviewed by the NHL to see if he had lifted his stick too high in redirecting the slap shot taken by teammate Brian Gionta.
“I was sure it was a goal,” Desharnais said. “I tipped one earlier this year that was a little higher than that, so there was no doubt.”
Lars Eller also scored in third period and shootout for Montreal, which also beat the Devils in Montreal on Monday night.
Reid Boucher, credited with an assist on Michael Ryder’s goal in the third period, scored for the Devils in the shootout, breaking a string of 20 straight missed chances by the Devils, who are 0-5 in shootouts this season.
The Devils have lost nine straight shootouts, dating back to March 15 in Philadelphia.
Patrik Elias’ unassisted goal at 18:54 had given the Devils a 3-2 edge, but Desharnais scored for Montreal and forced overtime with 37 seconds to go.
Elias had the final chance to tie it for the Devils in the shootout, but couldn’t beat Canadiens goalie Peter Budaj, who ended the game with 31 saves.