Associated Press
MONTREAL ó Tom Kostopoulos scored 48 seconds into overtime to give the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in the opening game of their second-round series.
Kostopoulos put his own rebound past Martin Biron shortly after a faceoff in Philadelphiaís zone for his third goal of the playoffs.
Alex Kovalev drew Montreal even with 28.6 seconds remaining in regulation, scoring a power-play goal off a faceoff with goalie Carey Price pulled for an extra attacker. Flyers center Jeff Carterís stick broke as he lost the faceoff to Saku Koivu, and Kovalev beat Biron with a shot into the top right corner.
The Flyers continue to have problems protecting leads. Philadelphia also blew two-goal leads in Games 1 and 6 of its first-round series against Washington, and lost both games.
Joffrey Lupul scored a power-play goal 19 seconds into the third to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead.
Lupul, who scored Philadelphiaís series-winning goal in overtime Tuesday night in Washington, got his second of the playoffs ó after a brief video review ó when the puck came out of Priceís glove and hit Lupulís hand before going into the net off the Flyers forwardís skate.
Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau kept Price on the bench for a sixth attacker as Montreal began a power play in the Flyersí zone with 1:09 remaining after Philadelphiaís Mike Richards was sent off for kneeing Kovalev.
The strategy ultimately paid off as Kovalev scored his third of the playoffs to send the game to overtime.