SPORTS

Karlsson scores shootout winner as Senators edge Canadiens 4-3

Lisa Wallace The Canadian Press
Published Saturday, October 15, 2016 11:08PM EDT

Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson (65) shoots the puck past Montreal Canadiens goalie Al Montoya (35) to beat the Canadiens 4-3 in shootout NHL action, in Ottawa on Saturday, October 15, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Fred Chartrand)

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OTTAWA - Erik Karlsson scored the shootout winner as the Ottawa Senators beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Saturday night to open the season with back-to-back wins.

Tom Pyatt, Ryan Dzingel and Zack Smith scored for the Senators (2-0-0) in regulation time. Craig Anderson made 21 saves.

Jeff Petry led the way with two goals, while Artturi Lehkonen scored his first NHL career goal for the Canadiens (1-0-1) as Al Montoya stopped 35 shots.

It was a boisterous crowd of 18,195 on hand at Canadian Tire Centre, but the Senators still fell short of a sellout despite hosting their biggest rival.

Pyatt tied the game 3-3 off a great pass from Dzingel to beat Montoya stick side with 2:33 remaining in the third period. That forced the extra period and set up Karlsson's shootout heroics.

Ottawa got exactly the start they were looking for jumping out to a 2-0 lead, outshooting Montreal 13-6 and had some solid work on the penalty kill.