Michael Ryder was the hero for Boston on Thursday night, scoring the game-winning goal 1:59 into overtime as the Bruins topped the Montreal Canadiens, 5-4, to tie their quarterfinal series at two games a piece.
Boston, which has never won a playoff series after trailing 0-2, has now won two straight games in Montreal and will look to take a 3-2 series advantage in Game 5 as the scene shifts back to Boston on Saturday night.
Brent Sopel put Montreal on top, 1-0, with his goal 8:13 into the first period. Michael Ryder was able to knot the score at 1-1 with a goal 2:13 into the second period, marking the first of three goals in the period for Boston. Michael Cammalleri put the Canadiens up 2-1 with his goal 6:52 into the period and Andrei Kostitsyn added a goal 7:47 into the middle period to put the Habs up 4-2.
Andrew Ference put the Bruins within one goal, finding the back of the net with10:01 left in the second and Patrice Bergon tied the game at 3-3 on his goal with less than three minutes left in the second. P.K. Subban once again put Montreal in the lead a mere 1:59 into the third period, but Chris Kelly saved the day for Boston, scoring 13:42 into the final period.
The Bruins were able to kill off a crucial penalty in the final two minutes after Dennis Seidenberg was called for interference 17:41 into the third.
Ryder's game-winner came on an assist from Kelly, who fired a spot-on pass to Ryder on the left side of the net.
Neither goaltender was spectacular, with Boston's Tim Thomas giving up four goals on 38 shots while Montreal's Carey Price turned away 30 shots but allowed five goals.
Boston was outshot by Montreal, 38-35, but needed only one shot to score the game-winner in overtime. The Bruins recorded four penalty minutes while the Canadiens had only two penalty minutes. Montreal lost the faceoff battle, 30-28, but held a 27-19 advantage in hits.