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Habs slip by Jackets in SO

Nov 16, 2013 - 4:28 AM Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - David Desharnais scored the lone shootout goal as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2 at Nationwide Arena.

Desharnais, a recent healthy scratch, snapped a shot between the pads of Columbus goaltender Curtis McElhinney. The diminutive forward has yet to score in regulation or overtime in 18 games this season.

Alex Galchenyuk and Lars Eller had the goals for Montreal, which rallied from a two-goal deficit to post just its second win in November (2-3-2). Peter Budaj stopped 23 shots before turning away Columbus' trio of Mark Letestu, Artem Anisimov and Ryan Johansen in the tiebreaker.

"I thought we deserved to win," said Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien. "We work hard, even if we're down two goals, we didn't panic."

McElhinney made 38 saves for the slumping Blue Jackets, who have dropped eight of their last nine games (1-5-3).

Columbus announced earlier Friday that forward Marian Gaborik will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a sprained knee.

The Blue Jackets scored two goals separated by 1:39 in the opening period, but Montreal capitalized on a late turnover to get on the board before the first intermission.

RJ Umberger held the puck along left side boards and fired a low shot from the bottom of the faceoff circle through the five-hole of Budaj at the 15:33 mark.

Moments later, confusion around the Montreal crease led to a tally for Anisimov. Canadiens defenseman Douglas Murray had driven Jared Boll into Budaj, who was out position and unable to stop the bid from Anisimov at 17:12.

The Blue Jackets were primed to carry a two-goal advantage into the second period, but defenseman Fedor Tyutin lost the puck at the Columbus blue line as the clubs skated 4-on-4, triggering a breakaway goal for Galchenyuk with 7.8 seconds remaining.

"We just shovel (the puck) back to our defenseman, a bouncing puck, and it's a tough play for (Tyutin). It's a tough play, puck bouncing and he tries to make a play. Just a bad decision," Columbus head coach Todd Richards said.

Montreal pulled even on a power play as Eller deposited a rebound from the slot past McElhinney, who was sitting on his backside, 7:34 into the middle stanza.

Both teams killed a penalty in a scoreless third period.

Game Notes

Montreal forward Brendan Gallagher missed the game with the flu ... Canadiens forward Brandon Prust returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a shoulder injury.