Overtime goal sends Canadiens to 2-1 edge

MONTREAL -- Donald Audette waited until overtime to take his first shot of the game. It buried the Carolina Hurricanes.

Audette scored his fifth goal of the Stanley Cup playoffs at 2:26 of the first overtime Tuesday night and Jose Theodore made 33 saves as the Montreal Canadiens beat Carolina 2-1. The victory gave Montreal a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes here Thursday night.

The winning goal came off a faceoff, and Carolina ace Rod Brind'Amour was victimized on the draw by Yanic Perreault. He drew the puck to Audette, who beat goalie Kevin Weekes with a quick shot from the low slot.

It was Carolina's first overtime loss after two wins against New Jersey in the first round.

Prior to playoff games at the Molson Centre this year, the Canadiens are using their past for inspiration. Black-and-white photos of heroes of the team's 24 Stanley Cup-winning teams -- Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur and Toe Blake head the pantheon -- are superimposed on the ice.

World Championships

GOTEBORG, Sweden -- Ryan Miller stopped two penalty shots, but allowed two goals 1:31 apart in the second period as Finland eliminated the United States from the World Hockey Championships with a 3-1 quarterfinal victory.

Daniel LaCouture of the Penguins scored for the United States in the third period.

-- From wire reports