MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens showed their resilience once again by storming back against the Carolina Hurricanes in a dramatic 4-3 game that was decided by a shootout.

What was a disjointed effort--at best--after the Habs quickly surrendered a couple of bad-chance goals in the first ten minutes, turned into an impressive one with Lars Eller getting them on the board late in the second.

Eller's goal gave the Canadiens life, and his play in the third period, while Scott Gomez was nursing an injury in the locker room, gave them hope as he was instrumental in helping the team mount its second comeback of the night, equalizing a game they fought so hard to make 2-2 at 3-3.

Goals from Eller and Travis Moen were key in this game, but Mike Cammalleri's nifty tip-in at the side of the net, in the very first minute of the third period, made it pretty clear the Canadiens were going to get the job done.

They prevailed in the shootout for the first time all season, and Carey Price, who had surrendered all shots previously faced this season, was perfect.

Huge two points ahead of Philly and Pittsburgh

There are no bigger points in the standings than the ones you earn that were seemingly out of reach.

For a large portion of last night's game, against a team that was 6-1-1 when holding a 2-0 lead going into the game, this one seemed out of reach.

Carey Price stood on his head to keep the Canadiens in the game, not that he didn't get a little help from his posts which stopped at least four goals on the night, including one in the shootout.

Not that Cam Ward didn't have the same luck. The Canadiens hit five posts in the game and still managed to win.

These two points were enormous ahead of a grudge match with the Flyers, who are out to avenge a 5-1 October 26th loss to the Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Lucky for the Canadiens, the Flyers' only goal-scorer from that game won't be available to them on Friday. Jaromir Jagr's nursing a lower-body injury.

Unlucky for them, they have the unruly task of welcoming Sidney Crosby and the rest of the high-flying Penguins Saturday for what should be their biggest challenge of the season to date.


Markov's Return?

Rumours are often to be ignored, but there's one currently floating around about Andrei Markov's possible return being slated for Saturday against the Penguins.

That would be special, but highly unlikely given that Jacques Martin said last week he doesn't expect Markov to return until after the Canadiens Western swing next week.

Stranger things have happened.