Desharnais scores in OT and Canadiens edge Flyers 2-1

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Wednesday, February 11, 2015
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MONTREAL -- David Desharnais scored at 3:27 of overtime and the Montreal Canadiens extended their winning streak to three games with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

Tomas Plekanec scored in the third period for the Canadiens. Carey Price made 23 saves for his 30th win of the season.

Matt Read scored for the Flyers. Ray Emery, replacing the injured Steve Mason, made 39 saves.

Desharnais scored after scooping his own rebound over Emery's shoulder.

The Canadiens have won a league-best 10 games when trailing after the first period.

The Flyers stunned the Bell Centre crowd early on as Read scored on the team's first shot 51 seconds into the game. Read beat a partially-screened Price glove side with a wrister for his first goal in 25 games.

The game had numerous odd-man rushes and breakaways - including breakaways by Claude Giroux and Max Pacioretty in the first five minutes - but Price and Emery were solid every time.

The pace of the game slowed drastically midway through the first period but picked up again in the second. Price stopped Jakub Voracek on a 2-on-1 break to start the second, and the Canadiens goalie barely moved to deny Sean Couturier on a breakaway seconds later.

Scott Laughton failed to increase the Flyers' one-goal advantage when he hit the post five minutes into the second.

The 1-0 score stayed intact until 12:38 of the third period when Plekanec scored his third goal in as many games, shoveling the puck under Emery after a scramble in front of the net.

The Canadiens continue their three-game homestand when the Edmonton Oilers come to town on Thursday.

Philadelphia's Mason will miss at least two weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury in Sunday's win against the Washington Capitals.

Notes: Manny Malhotra and Mike Weaver did not play for Montreal. Luke Schenn (day to day with an upper-body injury) was a late scratch for Philadelphia. Prior to puck drop, fans at the Bell Centre held a moment of silence for former Canadiens coach Claude Ruel, who died on Monday. The Canadiens went 0 for 3 with the man advantage.

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