Habs score twice in the third to down Penguins

MONTREAL (Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens scored two third period goals to record a 3-2 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, leveling their Eastern Conference semi-final series at two games each.

The Stanley Cup champion Penguins were bolstered by Jordan Staal's return to the ice from foot surgery, but the presence of the young center and a 2-1 lead after two periods was not enough to hold off a relentless Canadiens' late charge.

Montreal peppered Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury with 16 shots in the third period, with Maxim Lapierre tying the game at 2:07 while Brian Gionta scored the winner less than 90 seconds later.

"We knew in that second intermission that we probably had played our worst two periods of the playoffs," Gionta told reporters after scoring the winner on a fortuitous pass from the right circle that banked off a defender and found the net.

"So to be down one goal, we knew we had a chance to steal a game. We came out in the third period and got some lucky bounces, and it found its way in."

Fleury made 22 saves, while Montreal netminder Jaroslav Halak made 33 saves after allowing two goals in the first period.

Canadiens center Tom Pyatt had opened the scoring 2:34 into the game, but the Penguins grabbed the less than four minutes later after quick goals by Maxime Talbot and Chris Kunitz.

Both teams went scoreless in the second despite Pittsburgh controlling much of the activity.

"They hung around," said Crosby. "I guess if you look at it, that's probably the difference."

For the Habs, the win maintained their unlikely push for a Stanley Cup finals place.

In the opening round, Montreal rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to overcome the top-seeded Washington Capitals.

Now the resilient Habs are looking to take down the champs as the series resumes in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Edited by Patrick Johnston)