Andrei Kostitsyn scores overtime winner to lead the Montreal Canadiens past the Phoenix Coyotes
Montreal Canadiens forward Andrei Kostitsyn scored 1:25 into overtime to lead the Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday night.
How it happened
After a scoreless first period, Phoenix opened the scoring when Wojtek Wolski skated behind the Canadiens net and threw a puck out in front for Kyle Turris, who fired a hard wrist shot that trickled between
the legs of Carey Price.
The Canadiens answered back after they controlled a face-off deep in Phoenix's zone. After firing numerous shots at goal, which had Phoenix netminder Ilya Bryzgalov jumping around his crease, Tomas Plekanec
fired the decisive shot which bulged the twine past the Coyotes' hapless netminder.
The Canadiens took the lead just over two minutes later on the power play when Mike Cammalleri was allowed to walk in and fire a wrist shot into the top corner. It was only the Canadiens second power play
goal of the season.
The Coyotes tied things up early in the third when Derek Morris's power play point shot flew past Price, who was screened on the play.
Not long into overtime and the Canadiens had their winner when Josh Gorges' point shot bounced off Lars Eller right to Kostitsyn who fired the puck past a sprawling Bryzgalov.
What they're saying
Kostitsyn has had the hot hand recently for the Canadiens, collecting a goal and an assist during the game, and leading the team in scoring with eight points.
"He's just playing well," Cammalleri said about his team-mate."He's got a compete level in his game right now that's really nice. Even early in the game you see him get in there and finish checks and turn
pucks over and create offense.
"We all know what he's capable of, but we need him to keep going. It's early."
The Coyotes lost for the third straight time after going to the extra period.
We found a way to lose the game again tonight," said goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. "We've had three overtime games and we've lost them all."
The win for the Canadiens puts them temporarily in the lead in the Eastern Conference as they've now won four of their last five games. They play host to the New York Islanders next on Wednesday 27 October.
The Coyotes have yet reach the type of form they had last year and have now lost five of their last six games. They play the Ottawa Senators in an afternoon game on Tuesday 26 October.
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