It wasn't how the Montreal Canadiens wrote it up, but it was exactly what they needed.
The club snapped its five-game losing streak Saturday with a 3-2 shootout win over the rival Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canadiens nearly threw the game away after flying out of the gate with two first-period goals. The team was silenced the rest of the way before Max Pacioretty and Lars Eller were able to solve James Reimer in the shootout.
Max Pacioretty says he was the most nervous person in Ontario before taking his must-make shootout attempt.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 24, 2016
After peppering the Maple Leafs with 14 shots in the first period, the team only mustered 15 over the next 45 minutes. Defensively, though, the Canadiens put forth a more admirable effort, limiting the Maple Leafs to just 19 shots.
Reimer punched in another stellar performance, turning away 27 of 29 shots, while Joffrey Lupul tallied the game-tying goal after showing a lack of sympathy for his foe's slump prior to puck drop.
Leafs have just one win in last eight games (1-5-2).
— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) January 24, 2016
With the win, the Canadiens keep pace with the New Jersey Devils, who defeated the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday and remain three points out of the final wild-card spot in the East.
