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Gorges guides Habs to OT win over Phoenix

Nov 11, 2011 - 6:08 AM Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Josh Gorges scored the game-winning goal at 1:45 of overtime, sending the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

Gorges picked up a loose puck in the high slot and slapped one off the inside of the far post and in behind Mike Smith for the winner.

Brian Gionta finished with a goal and assist and Travis Moen netted the other goal for the Canadiens, who rebounded nicely after dropping their previous two games. Carey Price made 32 saves.

Mikkel Boedker and Raffi Torres scored, while Smith stopped 33-of-36 shots for the Coyotes, who have not beaten Montreal since December 9, 1998.

Phoenix grabbed the lead at 5:43 of the opening stanza when the Coyotes' forechecking caused a turnover. Oliver Ekman-Larsson dumped the puck down into the left corner to Cal O'Reilly, who sent it to Boedker in front from behind the net and the winger fired it far side past Price for the 1-0 lead.

"We didn't have the first period that we wanted to, we were lucky to be up," O'Reilly said. "They had a real good second period and we tied it in the third, but we weren't able to get the two points. We just have to come with a 60 minute effort."

Montreal tied the game at one at 3:28 of the second stanza when Gionta picked the pocket of Boyd Gordon behind the net, came around the right side and slipped it under Smith.

The Habs took the lead with just 2:14 remaining in the second period with some excellent passing off the rush. Gionta took a pass in the neutral zone from Tomas Plekanic and raced up the right wing into the offensive zone. Gionta found Moen alone in the slot, and he fired it past Smith to the glove side to make it 2-1.

Phoenix tied the game at 5:50 of the third period thanks to some strong forechecking. Torres chased down a loose puck in the left corner, won the battle with Raphael Diaz and got the puck back to Keith Yandle at the left point. Yandle fired a slapshot on goal that was stopped by Price, but Torres was there in front to jam home the rebound.

Game Notes

Thursday marked the only meeting of the season between the teams, Montreal took a 3-2 overtime decision last season...Smith is 4-1-1 in his last six starts...The Habs finished 0-for-1 on the power play, while Phoenix was 0- for-2 with the man advantage...The Coyotes will head to San Jose to battle the Sharks on Saturday, while Montreal will visit Nashville to tangle with the Predators, also on Saturday.