![Petry's OT goal stuns Penguins for 1-0 Canadiens series lead](https://dpdajlq3ew794.cloudfront.net/20200801222626/petry-overtime-goal.jpeg?format=auto&width=1920)
A bigger underdog than anyone in the NHL’s play-in round, the Montreal Canadiens began their quest to shock the world Saturday night in Game 1 of their best-of-five series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Things started well for the Canadiens, but the Penguins fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime. But before Pittsburgh could complete the comeback and claim the early lead in the series, Jeff Petry had something to say.
MERCI JEFF PETRY#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/MOnZ6ZhhP3
— Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) August 2, 2020
Petry’s snipe past Matt Murray at 13:57 of overtime made the Habs the second 12th seed of the day to take a surprising 1-0 lead in their play-in series, securing a 3-2 win in Game 1.
The game started well for Montreal, as Jesperi Kotkaniemi got a fortunate bounce to open the scoring.
Premier match en sĂ©ries, premier but pour Jesperi! đ
First postseason game, first postseason goal for KK!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/NuGzsXVVrS
— Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) August 2, 2020
The goal stood up upon review and the Canadiens took a 1-0 lead despite being outshot 17-6 in the first period.
The Habs were only holding onto their lead by a thread, but at 6:53 of the second period, they extended it on a goal by Nick Suzuki off the rush.
BIG NICK ENERGY. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/qpjJFjwVDn
— Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) August 2, 2020
Down 2-0, the Penguins began to pick things up.
At 9:55 of the second period, Sidney Crosby got the Penguins on the board on a delayed penalty to Montreal.
SLAP ME SILLY, SIDNEY!
đš: Crosby
đ: @jakenbake20, @6Schultz6 pic.twitter.com/ehqgVSaL8H— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 2, 2020
Then on the power play just a couple minutes later thanks to a Jonathan Drouin hooking penalty, Bryan Rust tied things up.
After four months, we only have the good kind of Rust.
đš: @rustyyy_92
đ: Hornqvist, @jaredmccann19 pic.twitter.com/RpRdLEt14b— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 2, 2020
All of the sudden, it was a brand new game.
Pittsburgh outshot Montreal 8-4 in a pretty conservative third period for both teams — aside from a missed Connor Sheary penalty shot with 3:03 left — and it was off to overtime.
At 6:46 of OT, the much-maligned Drouin had a chance to redeem himself and play the hero after being hauled down on a breakaway. But Drouin’s penalty shot mirrored Sheary’s, as he also failed to register a shot on net.
Drouin OT penalty shot pic.twitter.com/LTnZMUYwRb
— Tony X (@soIoucity) August 2, 2020
Whoops.
So, the game continued for almost another seven minutes, until a loose puck squeaked out to Petry — a player many Habs fans wanted to see traded away back at the trade deadline, but was instead tonight’s hero.
olé pic.twitter.com/5LnGHHFntG
â Canadiens MontrĂ©al (@CanadiensMTL) August 2, 2020
The Canadiens have drawn first blood in the best-of-five series, but they still have a long way to go if they’re going to complete this upset of the Penguins. Game 2 will begin at 8 pm ET at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday.