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Bruins win in OT, even series with Habs

May 9, 2014 - 3:43 AM Montreal, QC (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Fraser scored 1:19 into overtime and the Boston Bruins grabbed a 1-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Playing in his first-ever playoff game after being called up earlier on Thursday, Fraser's heroics helped the Bruins even this set at two games apiece after the Bruins dropped a 4-2 decision on Tuesday.

A combined 65 shots through the first 60 minutes failed to find the back of the net, but Boston's third of the extra session made it in.

On the goal, Johnny Boychuk let fly with a big shot that Carey Price made the save on and the puck bounced behind the net. It rolled to the front and Carl Soderberg got a weak backhand off that Price also stopped, but Fraser was there for a backhand of his own that went in to end the game.

"The puck was bobbing out in front," said Fraser. "I tried to sneak it out and knocked it in. It's pretty exciting. I hardly slept today, being called up, but this is just one game and we just tied the series. Now we go back to Boston and continue."

Game 5 of this best-of-seven set will be played in Boston on Saturday.

Tuukka Rask stopped 33 shots for his second shutout of the playoffs and fifth of his postseason career.

"I saw the puck well tonight," said Rask. "They had a couple of shots that were screens. But, for the most part, we did a good job tonight letting me see the puck more. We didn't give them a lot. We managed the puck very well at times."

Price turned away 34 shots in the loss for the Canadiens.

This was the 10th time a playoff game between these long-time rivals had ended 1-0, with the last coming on April 15, 2008 when the Canadiens took Game 4 in an eventual seven-game victory in the quarterfinals.

However, this was just the second overtime game to end 1-0, as the only other time was on April 16, 1953 when Elmer Latch scored the Cup-clinching goal for the Canadiens to finish off a four-game sweep.

"Both teams battled and I was happy by the effort of our team," said Montreal head coach Michel Therrien. "Both goalies were phenomenal, both teams were well prepared. We lost the battle in front of the net, obviously, on the winning goal. But I'm pleased with our teams effort. When it's overtime, it could go either way."

Boston's best chance prior to the goal came in the third on the power play as Reilly Smith rang a shot off the crossbar just over nine minutes in.

Montreal's best chance of the game came with around 5 1/2 minutes left in the second when Lars Eller sent a pass to captain Brian Gionta, who got behind the defense. Rask, though, was up to the task as he turned away Gionta's backhand chance.

Price turned aside 32 shots through regulation, including 25 shots in the first two periods, while Rask made all his saves in the first 60 minutes as he didn't face a puck in overtime.

Game Notes

Fraser had been called up from Providence of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Fraser, along with defenseman Matt Bartkowski, took the ice in favor of defenseman Andrej Meszaros and forward Jordan Caron ... Montreal was 0- for-1 on the power play, while Boston was 0-for-2 ... This series is the 34th playoff meeting between these Original Six rivals. The Canadiens are 24-9 in the previous 33 series, but the Bruins have won the last two (2008, 2011).