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Ryder's OT goal helps Boston even series with Montreal

Apr 22, 2011 - 4:03 AM Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - Michael Ryder's second score of the game, coming 1:59 into overtime, lifted Boston over Montreal, 5-4, in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series from Bell Centre.

"I'm just happy we won the game. It's all that matters now," Ryder said. "It's good to go home tied 2-2. When we were down 3-1, we still thought we had a chance just like we've had all season. We needed to get back to what helped us before. We regrouped and started to do the things we should have done."

Ryder and Chris Kelly each notched three points for the Bruins, who have pulled even in the series after taking two in a row on the road. Patrice Bergeron and Andrew Ference also lit the lamp.

Tim Thomas stopped 34-of-38 shots.

Mike Cammalleri posted a goal and two assists for the Canadiens, who could have taken a commanding series lead with a victory.

Andrei Kostitsyn, Brent Sopel and P.K. Subban added scores while Carey Price gave up five goals on 35 shots.

Game 5 returns to Boston on Saturday.

Rich Peverley began the winning sequence by missing wide of the Montreal net off a 3-on-1 rush. The puck caromed off the back boards to Kelly on the right side near the goal line, and his spinning feed across to an open Ryder was converted for the deciding goal.

"We had some gaps in our defense. This was a heartbreaking loss after we came out so strong in regulation and in OT," Cammalleri admitted. "Defensive lapses were evident. We let them come back and that was a big faux pas. Now we go back to Boston and start all over again."

The Canadiens opened the scoring at 8:13 of the first period, when Sopel's shot from the bottom of the right circle sailed through traffic and in.

The Bruins equalized at 2:13 of the second as Ryder snapped a shot inside the near post from the right circle, but the Habs struck twice in a 55-second span to take control.

Montreal went up 2-1 at the 6:52 mark on Cammalleri's slam-dunk from the right side of the crease, then Tomas Plekanec fed Kostitsyn for a tap-in at the left post at 7:47.

Ference's blistering drive got Boston within a goal just after the midway point of the second then Bergeron struck with just under three minutes left for a 3-3 tie.

Subban's shot from the lower left circle eluded Thomas and Montreal led 4-3 thanks to the power play at 1:39 of the third period.

Thomas stopped Cammalleri's breakaway chance just under two minutes later, then Kelly converted a Ryder rebound with 6:18 to go for a 4-4 game.

"It was a big goal for us. We didn't want to be down three games to one. My linemates were able to set up the score, and since it came at the midway point of the third, we got some momentum," Kelly noted. "Then, to set up Mike with the winner early in OT, was just awesome."

Game Notes

Ryder's last multi-goal game occurred on February 9 against the Canadiens in Boston, and his previous two-goal playoff contest happened on April 17, 2010 at Buffalo...The former Canadien Ryder also tied a career playoff best with three points, first set on April 22, 2009 at Montreal with the Bruins (2G, 1A)...This marks the second straight playoff series between the clubs (2009) that Boston has won at least two games in Montreal. The Bruins also took two from the Habs on the road in 1988 and 1992...Peverley and Brad Marchand posted two assists for the victors...Forward Jeff Halpern returned to the Canadiens lineup after missing the last seven games with a lower-body injury.