RECAP: Red Wings 'calm down' and outlast Canadiens in OT, 4-3

MONTREAL -- Head coach Derek Lalonde was speaking to the media after the Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night when he was momentarily drowned out by a thunderous chant that formed near the visiting dressing room at Bell Centre.

All Lalonde could do was smile, looking over at the fathers and mentors who were celebrating Detroit's second straight overtime victory while waiting for the Red Wings players, coaches and training staff to join in the fun.
"We had a goal of six points on this little stretch with the dads' trip," Lalonde said. "We had to get two before we got four. Now we got four, and I just think it's a bigger picture. We're pushing to play significant games."
Detroit started fast against Montreal, taking a one-goal lead at 3:54 of the first period on Michael Rasmussen's ninth goal of the season. Jonatan Berggren and Oskar Sundqvist both found the back of the net in the second for the Red Wings, who headed into the second intermission tied, 3-3, against the Canadiens. After a scoreless third, Robby Fabbri scored the game-winner at 2:36 of overtime.
"We gave them a little bit too much tonight," said Fabbri, who has five points on four goals and one assist in 11 games since returning from his third career ACL tear. "But sometimes you get into those games, and you just gotta calm down and get back to your game as quick as possible. We did that."
Red Wings goalie Ville Husso made 20 saves for Detroit (21-18-8; 50 points), which is 3-1-1 over its past five games. The Canadiens (20-25-4; 44 points) earned a point in the loss.
Moritz Seider had three assists on Thursday, marking his fifth multi-point game of the season. He became the first Red Wings defenseman in franchise history with a trio of three-assist games at age 21 or younger.
NEXT UP: The Red Wings will play their final game before the 2023 NHL All-Star Break on Friday night, squaring off against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and will be televised exclusively on ESPN.

SCORING SUMMARY

Detroit 1, Montreal 0 (3:54, 1st period)
Rasmussen controlled a loose puck at Montreal's blue line and fired a shot from the slot that beat Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen to open the scoring for Detroit. The Red Wings have now struck first in three consecutive road games.

Montreal 1, Detroit 1 (5:54, 2nd period)
Rafael Harvey-Pinard set up Michael Pezzetta in front of the Red Wings' crease after Montreal forced a Detroit turnover.
Detroit 2, Montreal 1 (3:56, 2nd period)
With the Canadiens on the penalty kill, Berggren collected the puck along the right boards and fed captain Dylan Larkin in the right face-off circle. After Larkin's initial shot missed, Berggren gathered the rebound and scored to regain Detroit's lead. Seider picked up an assist on Berggren's eighth goal of the season.

Montreal 2, Detroit 2 (6:57, 2nd period)
Harvey-Pinard, assisted by Kirby Dach, scored a short-handed goal to knot things up at two apiece.
Detroit 3, Montreal 2 (13:30, 2nd period)
Stationed in front of Montreal's net, Sundqvist deflected Dominik Kubalik's shot from the point into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season. Seider recorded his second assist of the night.
Montreal 3, Detroit 3, (18:39, 2nd period)
The Canadiens responded when Harvey-Pinard raced into the Red Wings' defensive zone and sent a backhander past Husso for his second goal of the period.
Detroit 4, Montreal 3 (2:36, Overtime)
Seider fed Rasmussen, who skated into the right face-off circle and set up Fabbri for a one-timer to kick off Detroit's Fathers and Mentors trip with a win.

QUOTABLE

Lalonde on his takeaways from Thursday's overtime win
"I don't like the way we managed some of our game. We didn't give up a ton of offense, but we gave up some easy offense. The really disappointing goal was at the end of the second."
Lalonde on Husso's performance
"That was a goalie win. I'd have to look back on all three goals. I don't think he loved all three of those first goals, but it was us as a team not giving up a ton of offense but giving up easy offense."
Fabbri on finishing strong before the All-Star Break
"We're all feeling it. We're all ready to get down this stretch here, and we got one more before the break."
Husso on the Fathers and Mentors trip so far
"It's been a special time [with the fathers and mentors] for sure. My dad especially, first time seeing me play in the NHL, so it's nice."