BOSTON (AP) – Sergei Samsonov’s second goal of the game with 27.6 seconds left in overtime, completed the Boston Bruins’ rally in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.

The Bruins trailed 2-0, including a penalty-shot goal by Montreal’s Jason Ward just 26 seconds into the game.

Boston, which played its NHL-record 29th overtime game of the season, moved one point ahead of Philadelphia for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers lost to the New York Rangers earlier Saturday.

The Canadiens clinched a playoff spot and moved one point behind New Jersey for sixth place in the East.

Samsonov, cutting down the middle, redirected Jiri Slegr’s shot past goalie Jose Theodore for the winning goal. The Bruins tied it when Samsonov scored off a rebound in front 1:41 into the third period.

Ward became just the second Canadiens player to score a penalty-shot goal against the Bruins in Boston when he gave Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Ward’s goal tied the Bruins’ record for most penalty-shot goals allowed in a season. The Bruins, who gave up one to Washington’s Dainius Zubrus on Dec. 11, allowed two in 1949-50 and 1939-40.

Ward, hooked by defenseman Sean O’Donnell on the game’s opening shift, switched to his backhand and tucked a shot under Andrew Raycroft’s right pad during the penalty shot.

Montreal made it 2-0 at 2:57 of the second period when Stephane Quintal redirected Mike Ribeiro’s cross-ice pass past Raycroft from the bottom of the right circle.

Boston cut it to 2-1 on Sergei Gonchar’s power-play goal 11:39 into the second period. Gonchar’s slap shot from the point went through a screen and between Theodore’s pads.

Boston’s Joe Thornton was given a major penalty for hitting Steve Begin into the boards from behind midway into the third period.

Notes: It was the first penalty-shot goal by the Canadiens since Martin Rucinsky scored against Tampa Bay on March 29, 2001. … Ken Reardon was the only other Canadiens player to score a penalty-shot goal in Boston, on Jan. 12, 1949. … Robert Rousseau was the last Canadiens player to score a penalty-shot goal against the Bruins, doing it on Feb. 15, 1962. … It was just the eighth penalty shot taken by either team in the 669 regular-season meetings of the Original Six clubs. Montreal has scored three times in four chances, and Boston has two goals.

AP-ES-03-27-04 2157EST