TORONTO -- Shea Weber racked up three points to help the Habs pull ahead 2-1 in their Best-of-5 Qualifying Round series.
After splitting the first two games of the series, the Canadiens headed into Game 3 as the home team for the first time in the postseason. They may not have been playing at the Bell Centre, but it still felt like home at Scotiabank Arena.
The Canadiens came flying out of the gate to start Game 3, with Shea Weber sneaking his way behind the Penguins' defense to notch the opening goal just under five minutes into the tilt. The Penguins responded with a pair of quick power play goals 59 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Teddy Bleuger padded the Pens' lead with his first career NHL playoff goal, but Jonathan Drouin - sporting a new 'do for the occasion - cut the lead to 3-2 with a slick redirect off a Ben Chiarot shot.
Paul Byron tied things up at three apiece with some quick work on a wraparound, slipping his first of the postseason behind Matt Murray to send the teams into the second intermission deadlocked 3-3.
Jake Evans, who replaced Jordan Weal in the lineup on Wednesday, took a tough hit into the boards from Brandon Tanev and did not return for the third period. Jeff Petry, who scored the overtime winner in Game 1, once again showed up in his hero cape on Wednesday night, roofing his second of the playoffs over Murray to give the Habs a 4-3 lead just over five minutes into the final frame.
The Pens pulled Murray with just over two minutes to go in regulation, but the Canadiens managed to stave off the 6-on-5 attack to hold on for a huge win and a 2-1 series lead. They're now one game shy of clinching a spot in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Game 4 is set for 4:00 p.m. on Friday night and will be another "home" game for the Habs.
