Opportunity knocks, Canadiens don't answer

The Canadiens missed an opportunity to pick up some ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race when they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday at the Bell Centre. The Canadiens led 3-2 going into the third period and had a power play at 3:02. But they lost the momentum 13 seconds later when Eric Staal scored a shorthanded goal.

The special teams were topsy-turvy for the Canadiens. They came into the game with the No. 1 penalty-killing team in the NHL, but they gave up two power-play goals, including the game-winner by Jamie McBain midway through the third period.

The Canadiens' power play ranks 29th in the NHL, but it produced two goals in the second period as Erik Cole and David Desharnais scored to give Montreal its 3-2 lead. But the good work was undone when Staal scored the shorthanded goal. Desharnais lost a faceoff on the play, but the damage was done by Tomas Kaberle, who started the season in Carolina. He gave the puck away in the neutral zone and then allowed Staal to go around him.

The Canadiens could have moved within five points of eighth-place Toronto Maple Leafs, but they remain in 11th place as they prepare to face the Boston Bruins at home Wednesday night.

Coach Randy Cunneyworth shortened his bench in the second period and, if there was any doubt about Andrei Kostitsyn's future with the team, it was erased when he played only one shift in the third period and was on the ice for 4:20. He's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season but Montreal will do everything they can to move him before the trading deadline.

Scott Gomez also found him ice time cut. He played 7:49 with only two shifts in the third period. The Canadiens would like to move him but that's unlikely because of his contract. He's making $7.5 million and has two seasons remaining on a deal with a $7.3-million cap hit.

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