Game 31: Montreal 4 at Detroit 3

Jackie LeClair's goal at 2:53 of the third period capped a comeback from a 3-1 deficit as Montreal Canadiens beat Detroit Red Wings, 4-3 at Olympia Stadium for Habs' ninth win in a row.

Red Wings led, 3-1, after one period.

But Canadiens tied the game with two goals in the second period, less than four minutes apart. This was despite Detroit outshooting Montreal, 14-8 in the frame.

Canadiens (9-2-0) lead the season series over Red Wings, 2-1 and opened up a six-point lead over second place Toronto. Detroit (4-4-3) still has a tenuous hold on third place.

Maurice Richard opened the scoring with a power play goal at 6:40 of the first period, blasting a slap shot that beat Glenn Hall on the stick side.

But Red Wings stormed back---starting with Johnny Bucyk's goal at 10:11. Red Kelly and Ted Lindsay added goals and the fans at Olympia sensed an end to Montreal's winning streak.

But Canadiens, who rarely have played from behind during their streak, were opportunistic and scored on two of their eight shots in the middle frame.

On the winning goal, LeClair cruised down the right wing and fired a wrist shot from the faceoff circle. The shot seemed to handcuff Hall as it slipped under his left arm.

Detroit's Gord Hollingworth and Montreal's Doug Harvey drew fighting majors at 8:40 of the first period.

1st Period
MON- M. Richard (St. Laurent, H. Richard) PPG 6:40
DET- Bucyk (Strate) 10:11
DET- Kelly (Pavelich, Dineen) 15:11
DET- Lindsay (Howe, Ullman) 18:59

2nd Period
MON- Harvey (Olmstead, Goyette) 2:21
MON- Turner (M. Richard, Beliveau) 6:03

3rd Period
MON- LeClair (Pronovost, Curry) 2:53

SOG
MON 8-8-10 = 26
DET 10-14-9 = 33

PP: MON 1-3; DET 0-2

Goalies
MON- Plante
DET- Hall


LeClair's goal early in the third period proved to be the game-winner for Canadiens