TOR@MTL: Game 6 Recap

MONTREAL - The Canadiens secured a 3-2 overtime victory over the Maple Leafs on Saturday night at the Bell Centre to tie the series 3-3.

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The Canadiens had fans in the building for the first time since March 10, 2020.
Twenty-five hundred spectators were in attendance, making Montreal the first Canadian club to welcome fans since the start of the pandemic.

Interim head coach Dominique Ducharme made a couple of lineup changes for Game 6.
Centreman Jake Evans returned after missing the last four games due to injury.
Evans took left-winger Tomas Tatar's spot alongside Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher.

On defense, Brett Kulak replaced Jon Merrill, who was injured in Game 5.

No goals were scored in the first period. Montreal led 15-9 in shots after 20 minutes.
Goaltender Carey Price was solid in the opening frame, making several excellent stops, including this one on right-winger Mitch Marner.

It was still scoreless after 40 minutes. Ducharme's squad was leading 21-15 in shots heading into the final stanza.
The Canadiens finally opened the scoring at the 5:26 mark of the third period.
With right-winger William Nylander in the penalty box for goaltender interference, Corey Perry stuffed a loose puck in the crease into the net to put Montreal up 1-0.

It was the 36-year-old veteran's first goal of the series and his 42nd career playoff tally.
It was also the Canadiens' first power play goal of the series.
Montreal went ahead 2-0 just 1:17 later, capitalizing on a 5-on-3.
Right-winger Tyler Toffoli buried a perfect feed from Nick Suzuki to register his first goal of the series.

It was the 12th postseason goal of Toffoli's career.
Defenseman Jeff Petry collected the secondary helper on the play.
It was the first point registered by a Canadiens blueliner in the series.
The Maple Leafs cut the Canadiens' lead in half with 8:25 left in regulation courtesy of centreman Jason Spezza.
The 37-year-old veteran's shot deflected off Petry's stick before beating Price up high.

It was Spezza's third goal of the series and his 28th career playoff goal.
Centreman Alexander Kerfoot collected the lone assist on the sequence.
Toronto tied things up 2-2 with 3:11 left in regulation.
Defenseman TJ Brodie's shot deflected off Petry's skate before beating Price under the arm.

It was Brodie's first goal of the series and his fifth career playoff marker.
Left-winger Pierre Engvall assisted on the goal.
That's the way things stood after 60 minutes, so overtime was required.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi played the role of OT hero, scoring with 4:45 left in the stanza to seal the deal.

It was his third goal of the series.
Left-winger Paul Byron collected the lone assist.
The seventh and deciding game of the series will be played on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena.