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Markov's goal helps Canadiens win wild game

Jan 4, 2009 - 11:36 PM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- Defenseman Andrei Markov scored the lone goal in the third round of the shootout and Jaroslav Halak stopped 30 shots as the Montreal Canadiens outlasted the Florida Panthers, 6-5, on Sunday.

Andrei Kostitsyn had a pair of goals for the Canadiens, who rallied from a two-goal deficit and promptly relinquished a pair of two-goal leads.

Defenseman Francis Bouillon, Tom Kostopoulos and Robert Lang each scored for Montreal, which outshot Florida, 19-5, in a four-goal second period.

In the shootout, the first five shooters were unsuccessful before Markov beat goaltender Craig Anderson with a backhand to seal the win.

"We definitely made it interesting at the end," said Montreal defenseman Mike Komisarek, who assisted on Lang's tally.

"I only have the one move and that's what I did," Markov said. "What we have to do is to focus on playing a full 60 minutes."

Radek Dvorak scored twice for Florida - including the game-tying goal with 98 seconds left in regulation. The Panthers nearly won it in the extra session, but defenseman Keith Ballard hit the near post on a breakaway with less than a minute to play.

Defenseman Jassen Cullimore, Brett McLean and David Booth also scored for the Panthers.

"It was our second game in 24 hours, and I thought we got off to a real good start," Florida coach Peter DeBoer said. "In the second period, Montreal came out and threw a lot of speed at us, a lot of forechecks and I don't think we handled it real well."

It was a hard-fought win for the Canadiens, who took a 4-2 lead into the final period thanks to the dominating second session. Kostitsyn's second tally made it 5-3 at 3:58 of the third, but Florida would not go quietly.

The Panthers pulled to within 5-4 after Cullimore's drive from the left point beat Halak at 9:22 of the third. Dvorak's second goal tied the game at 5-5 with 98 seconds to play. Dvorak knocked in a loose puck in the crease with several players crowding the area.

"In the third period we thought we had them, but we started making plays that we shouldn't," Montreal left wing Steve Begin said.

"The same mistakes that happen over and over, but at least we came out with the two points. It's something we have to look at. It's not the kind of game we want to play."

Anderson stopped 40 shots for Florida, which went 1-for-6 with a man advantage.

"It was one of those nights where they score in one round in the shootout and come out with two points," Anderson said.

"It was tough (the second) we missed some scoring chances and they're a good scoring team and they're going to bury a few. We lost momentum and couldn't get it back. The guys battled really hard to get back into the game and get us a point."