MTL@CGY: Game recap

CALGARY - The Canadiens came back from a pair of deficits in a wild back-and-forth game on Thursday, beating the Flames 5-4 in OT.

Interim head coach Martin St-Louis made several changes to his lineup at the Saddledome; Andrew Hammond, Kale Clague and Michael Pezzetta replaced Sam Montembeault, Corey Schueneman and Mathieu Perreault, respectively.
Pezzetta for his part was dressed for the occasion in Stampede City.
The Flames entered the game as winners of nine of their last 10 at home and got on the board first opposite the Habs.
Blake Coleman was alone in front of the net and completed a play by Andrew Mangiapane at 11:06 to open the scoring.
The Canadiens replied just before the period expired to tie things up heading into the break.
Jeff Petry took advantage of a scramble in front of the net to put a loose puck past Jacob Markstrom at 19:34.

The Canadiens came out strong for the second, but it was the Flames who retook the lead first.
Johnny Gaudreau drove to the crease and snapped a wrist shot up top to make it 2-1, before Mangiapane doubled the lead shorthanded less than four minutes later at 15:40.
The Flames were called for four penalties in the middle frame, and Nick Suzuki finally took advantage of a 5-on-3 to pull the Habs within one before the period expired.

Jake Evans left the game with an upper body injury and did not return for the third.
Back for the final 20 and Ben Chiarot made it a new game at 4:38. The Habs blueliner took a drop pass from Mike Hoffman and fired the puck past Markstrom to tie things 3-3.

Hoffman then looked to have the game-winner, putting the Habs ahead for the first time with a wrister at 17:15, but Elias Lindholm forced OT with a late equalizer.

But Chiarot put the visitors ahead for good 63 seconds into the extra frame, giving the Canadiens a sixth win in their last seven games.

Hoffman earned his fourth point of the game on the play, while Chiarot and Suzuki both finished the night with three points each.
Andrew Hammond remained perfect as a Hab with his third win in as many starts.
The Habs will be back in action on Saturday when they visit the Oilers in Edmonton.