Canadiens 1 - 2 Senators
Final - OT
  for this game

Kuba's OT goal lifts Sens over Habs, into first place in Northeast

Mar 17, 2012 - 6:09 AM Ottawa, ON (Sports Network) - Filip Kuba's tally with 1:53 remaining in overtime sent Ottawa into first place in the Northeast Division thanks to a 2-1 victory over Montreal at Scotiabank Place.

Daniel Alfredsson set up the score, carrying past a Canadiens checker in the neutral zone, then coasting up the right wing before finding Kuba on the left side. His wrister beat Carey Price to the short side to end the game.

"This one means a lot for all those guys across the hallway," Senators head coach Paul MacLean said of his players. "They've worked hard and believed in themselves from the start. I think the consistency of their effort on a daily basis is being rewarded with the success the team is having."

Colin Greening tied the game in the third period for the Senators, who vaulted over idle Boston by one point (84-83) for the top spot. The Bruins take on Philadelphia at home Saturday afternoon and have the chance to reclaim the lead before Ottawa hosts the Maple Leafs.

Ben Bishop needed to make 13 saves to earn the win.

Tomas Plekanec's first-period score was all for the Canadiens, who won the opener of this home-and-home set on Wednesday by a 3-2 count in a shootout.

Price ended with 31 stops.

Plekanec tallied at the 8:18 mark of the first period, slapping a shot past Bishop from between the circles.

Ottawa failed to click on a two-man advantage which spread from the end of the first and into the second period, and despite a 12-3 shot advantage still couldn't solve Price.

Greening finally evened the score, converting an Erik Condra rebound at 6:27 of the third period. The Sens failed to net the winner despite a power play with 4:40 left in regulation.

"Some of the calls were deserved, but some you shake your head at," said Montreal head coach Randy Cunneyworth at his club's penalty problems which resulted in eight Ottawa power plays. "Beyond that, we have to play a lot smarter in certain situations."

Game Notes

Despite the loss, Montreal has taken three of five games in the season series, with one final matchup scheduled for the Bell Centre on March 23...Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin left the game early in the second period with an apparent upper-body injury after taking the full force of a shot on his side...Habs defenseman Tomas Kaberle sat out his second straight game due to personal reasons...Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson picked up an assist, becoming the youngest rearguard to reach 70 points in a season since Brian Leetch for the Rangers in 1988-89.






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