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Kovalev lifts Canadiens past Blues

Nov 17, 2008 - 4:20 AM ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Mired in a recent slump, the Montreal Canadiens needed more than regulation to snap out of it.

Alex Kovalev scored the lone goal in the third round of a shootout as the Canadiens skated to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.

"I just didn't think (Blues goaltender Manny Legace) would get back over to the post, so I went for it, and got it over him," Kovalev said. "Somehow, we found a way tonight."

Carey Price made 24 saves and denied David Perron and Keith Tkachuk in the bonus format as Montreal earned its second win in the last six contests.

"(Perron and Tkachuk) both did what I thought they would do in the shootout," Price said. "I'm just glad we had an opportunity to get that point after the way the game went and as well as the Blues played."

Andrei Kostitsyn recorded a goal and an assist and Robert Lang scored with 4:12 remaining in the third period to forge a 2-2 tie.

"This was one of our best games of the season," Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau said. "We didn't play so well in the first and took a lot of penalties all night. But, we were able to battle back in the third and win it in a shootout, so we're really happy."

The Canadiens were 0-for-10 on the power play and have scored twice in their last 36 chances.

Steve Regier netted his first career goal and later added a power-play tally for the Blues, who have dropped seven of their last eight.

The Blues snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday behind two goals from Andy McDonald. However, McDonald, the team's leader with 18 points, left this contest in the first with a fractured left leg.

"(He) will be out indefinitely," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "We'll know more (Monday). Andy has been, to this point, our best player."

The Blues got on the board first when Cam Janssen unleashed a slap shot from the slot and Regier redirected the puck past Price just 3:48 into the opening period.

Legace finished with 24 saves and was first exposed with 1:55 left in the second. Kostitsyn took a pass from Price and charged down the ice before converting a backhander from the right side to even the game at 1-1.

"The only thing that I was disappointed about was the second period," Murray said. "After Andy's situation, we sat around waiting to see what would happen, and wasted 20 minutes. Nobody feels sorry for us, but, we did battle one of the league's better teams to the end."

Regier struck again 3 1/2 minutes into the third, but Legace was solved once again as Lang deflected Kostitsyn's pass across the crease while sitting on the right doorstep with 4:12 left.

"Right as (Kostitsyn) shot it in, I lost my balance," Lang said. "If I had kept my stick on the ice, I would never have been able to react in time to get to the puck. Then, I just kept whacking until it went in."

Blues veteran left wing Paul Kariya missed his fifth game with an injured foot.