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Markov helps Canadiens win sixth straight vs. Bruins

Oct 27, 2006 - 2:21 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Defenseman Andrei Markov waited until almost the last second before giving the Montreal Canadiens another victory over the Boston Bruins.

Markov scored a power play goal with 1.2 seconds left in regulation as the Canadiens posted a 3-2 victory over the Bruins, their sixth straight win in the series.

The goal came on Montreal's fifth power play, the result of Boston rookie Matt Lashoff's holding penalty with 45 seconds left.

"It's tough," Bruins defenseman Paul Mara said. "The last minute of a game and a ref decides a game, it's extremely tough. It's not a penalty in our minds, and the last minute of a game, I think a ref should be 100 percent sure that's a penalty. And that was questionable call there."

"It's pretty surreal," Lashoff said. "I don't think I hooked him but I can't go slamming my stick on the boards. I have to just go out there and play."

Christopher Higgins added a goal and an assist for the Canadiens.

"We're trying to score a little bit more by committee this year," Higgins said. "We were battling along the boards there and we didn't think we'd get it out in front in time and we won the battles along the boards. It's a great feeling to win with one second left. You don't really have to worry about the rest of the game or playing with the lead."

The goal by Markov was his first of the season and 41st career, 16 of which have come with a man advantage. The sixth-year Russian took a pass from defenseman Sheldon Souray and wristed a shot under the right armpit of goaltender Tim Thomas.

"I got enough of the shot and it got by him," said Markov. "This is a good road win for us."

Michael Ryder tallied 64 seconds into the game and netminder Christobal Huet stopped 34 shots - including all 14 in the third period - for Montreal.

"I think it's (the win) huge," Huet said. "We lost last game so as a team, we never want to lose two in a row. We played a smart road game."

Phil Kessel and Zdeno Chara had goals and Thomas stopped 27 shots for the Bruins, who were just 1-for-7 on the power play.

"There's no easy way or fun way to lose," Bruins coach Dave Lewis said. "That's why you can lose at any moment in the hockey game or you can win at any moment in the hockey game. When you lose and the way we lost, it's tough."