Blackhawks 1 - 2 Canadiens
Final - OT
  for this game

Canadiens secure playoff spot in OT win over Chicago

Apr 6, 2011 - 4:26 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - P.K. Subban scored on the power play 1:19 into overtime, as the Montreal Canadiens clinched a playoff berth with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Michael Cammalleri scored in regulation for the Canadiens, who are heading to the playoffs for a fourth straight season.

Carey Price made 42 saves for Montreal, which sits sixth in the Eastern Conference with 93 points. The Canadiens lead the Sabres by one point.

"I was just happy to be able to score there," Subban said. "I took some penalties so I just tried to make up for it. It was a great team effort."

Patrick Kane lit the lamp for the Blackhawks, who are tied for seventh in the West with the Ducks. Both teams have 93 points.

Corey Crawford made 32 saves for Chicago, which has lost two in a row.

"You come to expect it from him," Kane said of Crawford. "He's been awesome all year and he's really playing at the top of his game. It's good to see, especially right before we get in the playoffs here. We've still got some work to do but if we play like that we should win the majority of the games."

A tripping penalty on Jonathan Toews just 37 seconds into the overtime period put Montreal on the power play.

Andrei Kostitsyn controlled the puck along the right boards near the circle and made a nice cross-ice pass. Subban's one-timer from the left circle was too much for Crawford to handle.

Following a scoreless first period, Cammalleri put Montreal on the board at the 6:55 mark. Kostitsyn's pass from behind the net found Cammalleri's stick in the slot, and his wrister beat Crawford.

Kane tied the game at the 10:05 mark with a blast from the point.

Price kept the contest deadlocked in the third, as the Montreal goaltender made 20 saves. Crawford stopped nine shots in the frame.

Game Notes

Montreal played its final home game of the regular season on Tuesday. The Habs went 24-11-6 as the host this year. The Canadiens will close their schedule with road tests in Ottawa and Toronto on Thursday and Saturday, respectively...Montreal forward Jeff Halpern (lower body) and defenseman Alexandre Picard (foot) missed the game...The Blackhawks have lost five in a row in Montreal.






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