It was the ninth OT winner of Pacioretty's career, tying Aurele Joliat and Howie Morenz for the most OT markers in franchise history in the process.
To say that the come-from-behind victory did Pacioretty and the rest of the group a world of good would be a serious understatement.
"Too many times, we maybe felt sorry for ourselves [this year], felt like there was nothing we could do, but the energy on the bench, the things the guys were saying, and the support the guys were giving one another and how we were able to roll lines and keep them in their zone," said Pacioretty, following the up-and-down affair in Manitoba that came to a close with his fifth goal of the season. "There were some shifts where I felt we tired out their top guys, and that goes a long way and it gives you a chance to come back in the game. I really felt that the emotion and the confidence and the resiliency, everybody was playing the right way and saying the right things, and that goes a long way."
With Carey Price on the sidelines, Al Montoya stepped up to the plate and turned aside 19 shots to earn his second win of the 2017-18 campaign. The veteran netminder couldn't say enough good things about the way the team responded to their latest bout with adversity.
"The character showed up in this room. Our best players were our best players. That's something fun to watch," said Montoya, who was thrust into action after it was revealed that Price was dealing with a minor lower-body injury. "We've been battling all year long. We haven't gotten the end result that we've wanted, but this team's been giving it everything. It's in this room, keep chipping away and that's the mentality we went through and I think you see the leadership and experience go right through it."