MONTREAL, QUEBEC – There is a saying that a picture can say a thousand words, but right now one picture sums up one word perfectly – ‘perseverance’ combined with an image of the Montreal Canadians.
Trailing 2-1 in the series, and trailing 2-1 going in to the 3rd period of game four against the Penguins, goals from Maxim Lapierre and Brian Gionta helped Montreal rally and level the series at 2-2 ahead of the return to Pittsburgh this weekend.
Tom Pyatt had given the Habs the lead when his bad angle shot beat Marc Andre Fleury early in the 1st period. But goals from Maxim Talbot and Chris Kunitz gave the defending champions a lead going in to the first intermission, with Canadiens netminder Jaroslav Halak called upon to make a number of top saves to keep his side in the game. After a goal-less 2nd period, Lapierre’s wrap around goal tied the score at 2-2 before Brian Gionta’s centering pass struck Kris Letang’s skates and found its way past Fleury for the game winner.
Halak would go on to make 32 saves on the night and the teams now head in to this weekend’s game five at the Mellon Arena all square.
The Penguins welcomed back Jordan Staal, who missed two games with a foot injury. Staal had minor surgery on a tendon but has made a speedy recovery to rejoin the Pens in what is turning out to be a much closer series than many expected.
Montreal has already knocked out top seed Washington during the play-offs, and the Penguins will be keen to avoid a similar fate as they look for a third straight run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
