After a shot from the left point by Andrew Ference off a drop pass by Milan Lucic, Horton banged home the rebound at the right post at 9:03 of the second overtime.
The Bruins take their first lead of the series at 3-2 and can close out the Habs in Montreal on Tuesday.
Second Overtime, 5:35, 1-1: Thomas with the save of the night, robbing Brian Gionta as he took a pass on the right side trying to finish a 2-on-1 break with Travis Moen.
Second Overtime, 4:01, 1-1: Seidenberg goes in deep and nearly sets up Krejci with a pass from below the goal line.
Second Overtime, 1:47, 1-1: Icing called on the Bruins. This will be a big faceoff in the Boston zone early in the second OT.
Second Overtime, 0:00, 1-1: The fifth period of the night is under way here at the Garden, with the Bruins and Habs still trying to settle this one in sudden death.
Fourth Intermission Notes: And it’s on to a fifth period in Game 5. The Bruins have a 44-39 edge in shots, including 12-9 in the first overtime, but both Carey Price and Tim Thomas have come up with big stops when needed.
They’ve also had some help, as Montreal has blocked another 17 shots and the Bruins 19. Dennis Seidenberg leads the way with five and Milan Lucic has chipped in four, but the biggest were goal-savers by Michael Ryder early in the game and Patrice Bergeron in overtime.
As the game drags on, exhaustion will become an issue. Zdeno Chara, coming off his dehdyration earlier in the series, has played 33:17 so far, trailing only Seidenberg (34:03) and Montreal’s P.K. Subban (38:04) and Hal Gill (34:40).
End First Overtime, 1-1: And 80 minutes isn’t enough to settle this one, as the clubs will now move on to a second overtime to try to decide a winner.
Overtime, 18:12, 1-1: The Bruins do nothing with that power-play opportunity, not even creating any decent scoring chances.
Overtime, 16:12, 1-1: Bergeron is hauled down on a scoring chance in front by Brent Sopel, and the Bruins will go on the power play. If ever there was a time for the Bruins to finally score on the man-advantage this is it.
Overtime, 13:45, 1-1: Bergeron nearly set up the winner with a pass out to Recchi for a shot from the right slot, then saved the game with a block in front and Thomas out of the net.
Overtime, 10:48, 1-1: Thomas smothers a blast from James Wisniewski and we get a brief break to clear some of the excess snow from the ice as we’ve now passed the midway point of the first overtime period.
Overtime, 8:08, 1-1: The Bruins nearly get a gift as Price mishandles a Chara dump-in with Marchand driving the net, but Price covers it before it gets over the line.
Overtime, 5:01, 1-1: Lots of pressure from the Habs before Thomas is finally able to freeze the puck for a faceoff and a much-needed line change.
Overtime, 1:29, 1-1: The first good scoring chance of overtime comes with a shot from the high slot by Lucic, but Price makes the save.
Overtime, 0:00, 1-1: And the sudden-death portion of the evening is now under way at the Garden. The next goal takes Game 5 and a 3-2 lead in the series.
Third Intermission Notes: Yes, we’ve got at least one extra intermission again in this one.
After two periods without a goal, there were two scores in the third. But each side got one, leaving us in need of more hockey.
After the Bruins finally scored, the Habs really carried the play, ultimately tying it after several near misses. Montreal outshot Boston 14-11 in the third and cut Boston’s overall lead to 32-30. The Bruins need to use this intermission to collect themselves and get back to the way they were playing leading up to Brad Marchand’s goal early in the third.
They also need to clean up some of the little things in their game which can loom very large in a game like this. They’ve won just 43 percent of the draws so far, with only Patrice Bergeron (12-8) with a winning record. They can’t afford to give away possession like that, so that’s one area they will have to improve in the extra session.
End Regulation, 1-1: And for the second straight game, we’re headed to sudden-death overtime to settle this one.
Third Period, 16:26, 1-1: Lars Eller crashes the net and makes contact with Thomas, drawing the ire of Kaberle, who’s been surprisingly feisty in this one.
Third Period, 13:56, 1-1: The Bruins’ luck runs out as Jeff Halpern ties it with a shot from the low slot after a lengthy battle for possession along the right boards.
Third Period, 13:39, Bruins 1-0: A tense few seconds for the Bruins as Thomas bobbles a shot from Plekanec and Kostitsyn, Cammalleri and Kostitsyn again all have bids that somehow stay out.
Third Period, 13:07, Bruins 1-0: Brad Marchand continues to create havoc, nearly scoring in front off a feed from Bergeron, then handcuffing Price with a shot from the right wing.
Third Period, 10:59, Bruins 1-0: The Habs come within inches of tying it, as Mathieu Darche clangs one off the near right post.
Third Period, 9:51, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins survive a bit of a scare there, clearing the puck after Seidenberg got his stick stuck in the base of the boards.
Third Period, 7:34, Bruins 1-0: Marchand continues his big period as he goes down to block a Jaroslav Spacek shot from the point to relieve some pressure in the Bruins’ zone.
Third Period, 6:56, Bruins 1-0: Claude Julien uses his timeout here to settle the troops with a key defensive-zone faceoff coming up.
Third Period, 6:39, Bruins 1-0: Michael Cammalleri rips a wrister just wide from the slot as the Habs try to answer. Shots are 28-20 in favor of the Bruins.
Third Period, 4:33, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins finally break through, with Brad Marchand delivering the game’s first goal.
Marchand sent a pass out to Bergeron in front, but it was blocked back to Marchand, who banged it home at the right post behind Price. That’s Marchand’s first career playoff goal, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger time.
Third Period, 3:51, 0-0: Ryder nearly delivers another huge goal, but is robbed by Price on a bid from the slot.
Third Period, 1:09, 0-0: The sides are back at full strength after starting the period 4 on 4 with Marchand and Plekanec still in the box. Brian Gionta nearly scored with a drive to the net at the right post and Kelly and Peverley each had chances in close at the other end while playing 4 on 4.
Third Period, 0:00, 0-0: The third and possibly final period is under way here at the Garden, with both sides still looking for the first goal of the night, a tally that will loom very large in this one.
Brick Breaks Down the Game: Just got back from speaking with NESN analyst Andy Brickley about what we’ve seen so far and what the Bruins will need to do in the third period to pull this one out.
Here’s Brick’s breakdown:
“I’m loving this game,” Brickley said. “It’s been very entertaining. The expectations coming into this game was that both teams would bring their best game of the series so far and they have. They’ve limited their mistakes, everyone is contributing, the goalies are delivering and there’s been a lot of close calls. I love games like this in the playoffs. I’d much rather see this than an 8-2 game like we saw from Tampa and Pittsburgh this afternoon.
“I like the effort of the Krejci line. That’s been a source of concern for Bruins Nation, but they’ve played very well tonight.
“Now it’s all about who has the greater will to win, who gets the breaks. This is where heroes emerge.
“I wouldn’t might seeing a couple bad-angle shots on Price. The shots he’s seen he’s been able to smother. The Bruins haven’t gotten second-chance opportunities on him. A couple bad-angle shots where he’s not as prepared could go in or lead to rebound chances. I’d like to see more net drive and more of rotating the third man in high into the slot. It will take a special kind of effort. Show me that will to win. The Bruins have to win a game at home sometime in this series. Why not tonight?”
End Second Period, 0-0: The second 20 minutes ends just like the first, with the game still deadlocked in a scoreless draw. A monumental third period is on tap in this one.
Second Period, 19:03, 0-0: Things get a little nasty as the Bruins try to stuff one in. Brad Marchand and Tomas Plekanec wrestle around and trade some punches to draw matching roughing minors. Recchi tries to go after big Hal Gill and Seidenberg challenges Subban, but nothing further develops.
Second Period, 18:22, 0-0: Rich Peverley rips one just wide from the slot after a Ryder rush down the right side creates an opportunity.
Second Period, 14:45, 0-0: A brief “Ole, Ole, Ole” goes up here at the Garden, but it is quickly drowned out by boos. Fans are getting a little restless though as the anxiety rises the longer this one stays scoreless. That first goal looms bigger than ever now.
Second Period, 10:59, 0-0: Tomas Plekanec uses a burst of speed to get behind Chara and fires in a shot from the right wing. Thomas checks behind him, but he has the puck under him as it remains scoreless more than halfway through this one.
Second Period, 8:33, 0-0: Ryder with a shot from the slot that nearly gets by Price. He has trouble holding on to the puck, but gets a quick whistle with Marchand ready to pounce on the loose puck at the top of the crease.
Second Period, 7:51, 0-0: Boychuk shatters his sick attempting a clear around the boards and the Habs mount some pressure in deep with Boychuk caught without a stick, but a shot sails out of the zone to relieve the pressure.
Second Period, 4:52, 0-0: Subban throws down Bergeron in front of the net after the whistle. The ref points and him and gives him a lecture, but no penalty call is made.
Second Period, 3:53, 0-0: Another poor excuse for a power play for the Bruins, who not only fail to score again, but also give up two shorthanded 2-on-1s to the Habs.
Second Period, 1:53, 0-0: The Bruins, still in search of their first power-play goal of the series, get another chance as Travis Moen is called for holding after grabbing Chris Kelly deep in the Boston zone.
Second Period, 0:20, 0-0: Claude Julien matching lines to keep the Krejci unit away from Gill and Subban. After a quick whistle, Bergeron’s line replaces Krejci’s when Gill and Subban come on.
Second Period, 0:00, 0-0: The second frame is under way here at the Garden, with both sides looking for that first goal which has been so crucial in most of the games of this series.
First Intermission Notes: Solid action throughout the opening period, but neither side was able to gain an edge as it remains scoreless.
The Bruins have a 12-10 edge in shots, but both sides have had plenty of scoring chances. Tim Thomas and Carey Price have both come up big, and Michael Ryder made the biggest save of the night on Tomas Plekanec with Thomas out of the net.
Milan Lucic still doesn’t have a point in the series, but was very involved in that period. He had a pair of shots, a hit and a blocked shot as he laid out to stop a P.K. Subban blast from the point. If he keeps that effort up, the points will come eventually. All four lines have created scoring opportunities for the Bruins, but the Habs have gotten their chances too. The first goal is going to be a big one in this game, but with the way both teams are going, it probably won’t be the last one scored tonight.
End First Period, 0-0: The opening frame is in the books and it remains scoreless, but there was certainly no shortage of scoring chances as both sides created plenty of opportunities in an entertaining first 20 minutes.
First Period, 19:11, 0-0: The Bruins kill off the penalty and Peverley nearly has a breakaway out of the box.
First Period, 17:11, 0-0: The Bruins negate their power play as Rich Peverley is called for goalie interference even though he appeared to be shoved into Price by Subban. It’s 4 on 4 for 36 seconds, then another Montreal power play.
First Period, 15:47, 0-0: The Canadiens negate the rest of that penalty with one of their own, as David Desharnais goes off for interference on Boychuk. It will be 4 on 4 for 30 seconds, then the Bruins will have their first power-play chance.
First Period, 13:34, 0-0: The Canadiens will get the first power play of the night as Andrew Ference is sent off for holding.
First Period, 13:34, 0-0: Both sides keeping up this incredible pace with both scoring chances and hits galore. Chara nearly with another stanchion hit as he belts Ryan White at the end of the Bruins bench.
Lines are back to normal, with Peverley skating with Kelly and Ryder. Might have been an equipment issue that caused him to miss that earlier shift.
First Period, 11:30, 0-0: Unbelievable action early in this one. Amazing it is still scoreless with the quality chances at both ends of the ice. Thomas and Price have both made huge stops, and the rest of the skaters are doing their parts too, the latest being Lucic laying out to block a Subban blast.
First Period, 8:07, 0-0: Michael Ryder won Game 4 with a goal in OT, and starts Game 5 with a save in net, blocking a Tomas Plekanec bid with Thomas out of position to keep this one scoreless.
First Period, 6:39, 0-0: Campbell took a shift in Peverley’s spot with Kelly and Ryder. Will have to watch if that switch continues. Campbell is sitting with that line on the bench, while Peverley is next to Thornton and Paille.
First Period, 5:23, 0-0: A little nastiness after a Thomas tie-up with Kaberle of all people beginning the shoving. That brought in Moen and then McQuaid, but nothing further developed.
First Period, 1:50, 0-0: Solid first shift for the top line, with Krejci nearly redirecting a Lucic shot past Price. The Bruins need that line to start producing again.
First Period, 0:57, 0-0: Things start off quick in the opening minute, with Dennis Seidenberg landing a big hit on Jeff Halpern and Tim Thomas already called upon to make a pair of tough saves in close.
First Period, 0:00, 0-0: A solid pre-game presentation and the usual rousing rendition of the anthems from Rene Rancourt are over, and now it’s on to Game 5 as action is under way here at the Garden.
6:55 p.m.: The Bruins will once again open the game with Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Mark Recchi starting up front, Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg on defense and Tim Thomas in goal.
The Canadiens counter with Michael Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn up front, Hal Gill and P.K. Subban on the blue line and Carey Price in net.
6:50 p.m.: The scratches are as expected, with Tyler Seguin, Shane Hnidy and the rest of the Black Aces out for Boston.
Benoit Pouliot, Paul Mara, Yannick Weber and Alexandre Picard are out for Montreal. Both sides going with the same lineup as Game 4.
6:45 p.m.: No changes for the Bruins in their line combinations during the drills in warm-ups. Once again, Tyler Seguin and Shane Hnidy skated in the warm-up, but did not take part in the line rushes.
Here are the combinations from the warm-up:
Lucic-Krejci-Horton
Marchand-Bergeron-Recchi
Kelly-Peverley-Ryder
Paille-Campbell-Thornton
Defense pairs:
Chara-Seidenberg
Kaberle-McQuaid
Ference-Boychuk
6:40 p.m.: There are no extra skaters on ice for the Canadiens for the warm-up.
Beniot Pouliot, Paul Mara and Yannick Weber are not out there. Looks like Montreal will use same lineup as Game 4.
6:30 p.m.: No surprises as Tim Thomas and Carey Price lead their respective squads out onto the ice for warm-ups. That will be the goaltending matchup once again for this one.
6 p.m.: The Bruins and Habs are back in Boston, with Game 5 set to start in just about an hour.
The Bruins come in riding high after two straight wins in Montreal, but momentum has been tough to sustain in this series and Boston has yet to win on home ice.
The Bruins aren’t expected to make any lineup changes for this one, while Montreal coach Jacques Martin plans to weigh his options and make some game-time decisions. He sat out Benoit Pouliot in Game 4 with the return of Jeff Halpern, and also has Yannick Weber and Paul Mara as options if he wants to shake things up.
8 a.m.: The good news for the Bruins is that they won both games in Montreal to pull even in their opening-round playoff series.
The bad news is that the series now shifts back to Boston, where the Bruins lost each of the first two games. All four games have been won by the road team, but the Bruins will look to end that trend in Game 5 at the Garden on Saturday.
“I’m not worried about a team not winning at home,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “I think what I’m more concerned about is making sure our team is ready to play [Saturday] and hopefully build on that great win [Thursday]. And we just have to keep getting better and not worry about where we’re playing but how we’re playing.”
After a shaky start to the series, the Bruins are playing much better of late. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in Game 3 on Monday, then held on for a 4-2 victory at the Bell Centre. On Thursday, the Bruins overcame three deficits before rallying for a 5-4 win in overtime to even the series at two games apiece.
“I think it certainly was a big win for us to get us back in the series,” Julien said. “When you dig yourself a hole like we did at the beginning of the series, we knew it was going to be a big challenge in Montreal where they’ve had a pretty good home record this year. So to come out of there with two wins was important for us. As I said we realize we’re still in a pretty tough series here and at one point you hope that your team wins at home and hopefully that happens [Saturday].”
The Bruins will rely on Tim Thomas to help that cause. On Friday, Thomas was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, which honors the NHL’s best goaltender. Thomas, who won the award in 2008-09, led the league in both GAA (2.00) and save percentage (NHL-record .938) during the regular season, but has just a 2.75 GAA and a .908 save percentage so far in this series.
Montreal’s Carey Price, meanwhile, had a 2.35 GAA and a .923 save percentage in the regular season, but has improved those numbers to a 2.24 GAA and a .928 save percentage in this series. That’s a bit deceiving though, as Price allowed just one goal on 66 shots in the first two games, but has looked far more human in the last two games with eight goals on 59 shots.
“You try your best not to focus on [stats] during the regular season, but then in playoffs you really don’t have to focus on them because it’s all about whether you win or lose,” Thomas said. “You win a 5-4 game and it doesn’t matter your goals against or save percentage. That’s not it. At the end of the day it’s about the victories on the board.”
The Bruins will look to put a third straight victory on the board on Saturday and take their first lead in the series.
The puck drops at 7 p.m., so check back here throughout the day for updates on all the action.
