The Ottawa Senators exploded for four goals in the third period on Carey Price en-route to a 6-1 thumping of the Canadiens at Scotiabank Place.
The win gives Ottawa a 2-1 lead heading into game four Tuesday night in Ottawa.
The Canadiens came out and played a splendid opening period: but it was all downhill after that for Montreal.
With both Brian Gionta and Max Pacioretty in the lineup, the Habs came out of the first period tied at one: Rene Bourque scoring for the Canadiens on the power play; with Gionta picking up a helper. Both Gionta and Pacioretty missed game two with upper-body injuries.
The Sens then began to take the play to the Canadiens with Ottawa native Jean-Gabriel scoring the only goal in the second period: his first of three on the game. Frustration started to spill over in the second period, as PK Subban and Max Pacioretty could be seen exchanging words at the bench.
Pageau made it 3-1 Ottawa at 1:18 of the third period — and the Sens were off and running, with the game turning ugly in the third period. Players from both teams repeatedly dropped the gloves: with nine game misconducts dished out; five to the Canadiens.
The Habs also took seven fighting majors, as did the Sens in a game that featured more than 232 penalty minutes.
The Canadiens ended up outshooting Ottawa 34-30.
Game 4 goes Tuesday in Ottawa. This is gonna be good.
