Galchenyuk’s overtime goal lifts Montreal

Associated Press

NEW YORK

Alex Galchenyuk tipped in a pass at the right post 1:12 into overtime, and the Montreal Canadiens overcame a late tying goal and beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night.

Montreal cut New York’s series lead to 2-1, and can tie it Sunday night at Madison Square Garden before heading home for Game 5.

Galchenyuk, playing only his second game of these playoffs after returning from an injury Monday, deflected a feed from Tomas Plekanec to win it.

The Rangers tied it with 28.1 seconds left in regulation on Chris Kreider’s goal.

Dustin Tokarski was sharp throughout in his second NHL playoff game in place of injured goalie Carey Price, making 35 saves.

New York had its five-game winning streak snapped, and its run of six straight victories over the Canadiens also ended. The Rangers fell to 1-1 in overtime in these playoffs. The Canadiens are 3-1.

Montreal was poised to win it in regulation after Danny Briere scored with 3:02 left in the third, but Kreider matched him when his shot hit the sliding right skate of Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin in the crease and caromed past Tokarski, who thrust his head upward in disgust as Madison Square Garden shook.

Tokarski was playing in his second straight game because of a series-ending injury sustained by Price, who was barreled into by Kreider in Game 1.

Briere’s goal was also aided by an opposing defenseman, as Ryan McDonagh nudged the puck past goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov tied it at 1 for the Canadiens in the second period after Carl Hagelin staked New York to the lead in the first.

Tokarski, in his second career playoff game, was sharp throughout. He protected the lead with 55 seconds left, denying Martin St. Louis’ drive from the right side with a lunging save, but couldn’t close it out then. He stopped 27 shots in a 3-1 loss on Monday in Game 2.

Lundqvist made 22 saves, but couldn’t pull out this win.

The Rangers grabbed the lead in the first period that featured only one goal but hardly lacked for action.

By the time Hagelin put New York in front with a batted shot, there had already been one injury as the result of a questionable open-ice hit by Brandon Prust, and an ejection after Daniel Carcillo sought revenge on Prust — a former Rangers fan favorite — for his earlier leveling of Derek Stepan.