Canadiens  2    Blackhawks  3

Recap: Chicago vs. Montreal

Sports Network | October 31, 2009

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Patrick Sharp scored the decisive goal with 4:10 remaining in the third period, as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 3-2, in a clash between Original Six brethren at United Center.

Kris Versteeg and Cam Barker both registered a goal and an assist for the Blackhawks, who have won three of their last four games. Patrick Kane recorded two assists, and Cristobal Huet made 20 saves.

"I'm just trying to get the puck and do whatever I can with it and just make plays," Kane said.

Michael Cammalleri and Travis Moen provided the offense for the Canadiens, who have dropped five straight on the road since winning their first two games as the guest this season.

Carey Price, making his first start since October 17, stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced in defeat.

"We played hard and I thought it could have gone the other way," said Price. "We couldn't pull it out."

With the score deadlocked at two, Kane dashed down the right wing and fed Sharp, whose one-timer from the slot beat Price along the ice.

Montreal pulled its young goaltender in the final minute, but couldn't produce the equalizer.

Montreal failed to convert on an extended man advantage early in the contest. Chicago left winger Andrew Ladd caught Canadiens forward Matt D'Agostini up high with a hard hit as the latter attempted to push the puck out of his zone nearly four minutes into the game.

Ladd was assessed a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct in addition to a roughing penalty when Kyle Chipchura took it upon himself to avenge his teammate. Chipchura picked up a double-minor for roughing, giving Montreal a three-minute power play that went for naught. D'Agostini, meanwhile, was assisted off the ice and absent for the remainder of the game.

The Blackhawks then opened the scoring with 6:14 remaining in the first period when Versteeg's centering feed from behind the Montreal net to Sharp deflected off of Canadiens defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron and sneaked in behind Price.

Barker made it 2-0 with a blast on the power play. Once again, Versteeg, a Calder Trophy finalist last season, set up shop behind the enemy cage and slipped a pass to the left circle for Barker, who one-timed it home at 9:54 of the middle stanza.

Montreal, though, battled back to tie the game before the second intermission.

A fortuitous carom ignited the rally. Jaroslav Spacek's shot from the point went off the stick of Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell in the low slot right to Cammalleri at the side of the goal for an easy tap-in with 4:05 to play.

Moen drew the Habs even on a wraparound with 2.4 seconds remaining.

Chicago captain Jonathan Toews missed his fourth straight game because of concussion-like symptoms...Cammalleri's tally was the 300th point of his career...Backup Jaroslav Halak had started the Canadiens' last five games...The Habs made their first visit to the Windy City since October 18, 2006...Montreal is 1-6-0 this season when yielding the first goal...Montreal hosts the Maple Leafs on Saturday...The Blackhawks are idle until Thursday when they travel to Phoenix to take on the surprising Coyotes.