PIT@MTL: Postgame
The Habs squandered a pair of one-goal leads and fell to the Penguins at the Bell Centre on Saturday
by Dan Braverman @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
MONTREAL - The Canadiens were looking for their first win of 2020 in their second game of the calendar year, but couldn't get the job done and dropped a 3-2 decision in overtime to the Penguins on Saturday.
It was a special night for Montreal native Marco Scandella, who was making his Habs debut in front of friends and family - including uncle and former Canadien Sergio Momesso - after being acquired by the Canadiens on Thursday.
The Habs would strike first on this night, with Artturi Lehkonen picking up a short pass from Max Domi in the slot and wristing it past Penguins starter Matt Murray to make it 1-0 at the 8:42 mark.
It was Lehkonen's eighth tally of the season, leaving him one point shy of his 100th in the NHL.
Domi earned an assist on the play, extending his points streak to nine games.
The Penguins would reply quickly, however, with Teddy Blueger feeding Zach Aston-Reese in the slot to even things up just 46 seconds later.
The two teams headed to the room tied 1-1 after 20, with the Penguins leading 11-6 in shots.
Lehkonen didn't wait long to get his 100th point. The Finnish winger intercepted a Penguins pass close to Murray's crease 3:37 into the second and jammed it by the Penguins backstop to score his ninth of the season and reach the three-digit mark in career points, giving the Habs a 2-1 lead in the process.
It was Lehkonen's eighth career multi-goal game, and his second this season.
Price was sharp against the Pens, notably stopping Bryan Rust's one-timer from in close on a 2-on-1 with Evgeni Malkin with 13:16 to play in the middle frame.
Lehkonen would be the only goal-scorer in the period, leaving the Habs ahead 2-1 after 40. The Penguins were still leading in shots, 21-19, through two periods.
Pittsburgh wasn't done, however. At 5:24 of the third, Rust buried a rebound from a Jack Johnson shot from the point to even things up at 2-2.
With neither team able to break the deadlock after Rust's marker, the game would need to be decided in extra time.
Brandon Tanev scored the winner in overtime.