Philipp Kurashev's OT goal leads Blackhawks past Habs

[January 14, 2022] Philipp Kurashev scored at 2:24 of overtime to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 3-2 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

It was the third goal of the season for Kurashev, who deflected in a Brandon Hagel pass as he was sent crashing into the goal by Montreal's Mike Hoffman.

The net was knocked off the moorings on the play as the puck, under Kurashev's knee, crossed the line. The score was reviewed for several minutes by the NHL Situation Room in Toronto before being ruled valid. Montreal then challenged that Kurashev was offside on the play, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Patrick Kane and Dominik Kubalik also scored for Chicago, which won its third straight game. Erik Gustafsson logged two assists, and Marc-Andre Fleury finished with 27 saves for the victory.

Jeff Petry and Hoffman scored for Montreal, which was trying for its first road win since a 6-3 victory at Pittsburgh on Nov. 27. Sam Montembeault made 28 saves.

Chicago, which fired the first 11 shots on goal in the game and finished with a 13-3 edge in the first period, took a 1-0 lead at the 7:42 mark on Kubalik's first goal in seven games. Jonathan Toews set up the score, springing Kubalik on a breakaway that he finished with a wrist shot under Montembeault's glove for his seventh goal of the season.

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik (8) shoots and scores against Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) during the first period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal tied it midway through the second period on Petry's first goal of the season. Alexander Romanov fired a shot that caromed off the end boards straight to Petry, who slapped a shot under Fleury's glove. The tally snapped a 92:41 shutout streak by Fleury against Montreal this season.

The Canadiens took a 2-1 lead with 1:44 remaining in the second period on Hoffman's fifth goal of the season. Hoffman buried a Cole Caufield pass from the bottom of the right circle top-shelf for Montreal's first power-play goal since Dec. 4.

Montreal was 0-for-24 with the man advantage over the previous nine games.

Kane tied it at 2:21 of the third period with a power-play goal from the right circle. He fired a bad-angle wrist shot through Montembeault's pads for his eighth goal of the season to snap a 13-game goalless drought.

--Field Level Media

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