Pitlick plays hero as Canadiens rally to beat Maple Leafs 3-2 in OT

MONTREAL — After coming from a two-goal deficit in the second half, Rem Pitlick scored a 2-14 goal in overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Josh Anderson and Rafael Harvey-Pinard scored for Montreal (20-24-3) as the team celebrated its 20th win of the NHL season.

In the seventh game in a row, Samuel Montembeault made 36 saves. The Habs also sacrificed themselves for the keeper, blocking 23 shots.

Mark Giordano and Calle Jarnkrok scored for Toronto. Ilya Samsonov made 28 saves.

Toronto (28-11-8) got off to a strong start with 15 shots in the opening frame. The Leafs scored the first 53 seconds of the game when William Nylander sent a drop back pass into the slot for Giordano, who defeated Montembeault under the blocker.

The Leafs took a two-goal lead thanks to a speed boost from Mitch Marner. His shot was blocked but Conor Timmins recovered the loose puck and found a wide open Jarnkrok to knock out in his 10th of the campaign.

Montreal came back into play in the second period with two goals. At 1:46 of the second period, Nick Suzuki ceded the puck for Anderson, who hit from the left faceoff circle.

Suzuki was inches from tying the game with a lob from the crease, but Auston Matthews cleared the puck clear of the goal line.

Harvey-Pinard scored his first goal of the season and eventually leveled the score, hopping on a Samsonov rebound and finding the back of the net at 1:35 of the second period.

With 2:07 left in regulation, Nylander was called to a high-stick, giving Montreal a 4-on-3 power play for 1:01. Toronto successfully killed the penalty kick and the game went into overtime.

Pitlick scored the game-winning goal by charging over the boards and whipping a wrist shot past Samsonov to seal the win.

INJURY REPORT

The Canadiens had one more injury to report ahead of Saturday’s game. Forward Cole Caufield is set to undergo shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

Montreal recalled forward Alex Belzile from AHL affiliate Laval Rocket to fill Caufield’s roster spot. The winger recorded an assist in Saturday’s game.

The Canadiens host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs return to Toronto on Monday to play the New York Islanders.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 21, 2023.

Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press