Plekanec's hat trick pulls Habs to win

[Habsfan84]

HALIFAX - A hat trick by forward Thomas Plekanec paced the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-3 pre-season win over the Boston Bruins in Halifax on Sunday.
The teams played a fast-paced tilt before a pro-Montreal crowd of 9,967 at the Metro Centre.
Montreal opened the scoring early in the first period when a shot off the right wing boards by free agent acquisition Brian Smolinski was deflected past Bruins goaltender Manny Fernandez by Plekanec. The goal was Plekanec's first of the pre-season.
Plekanec added to his tally with a power play goal cutting off the left wing on a feed by Roman Hamrlik and calmly sliding a backhand past Fernandez giving the Habs a quick 2-0 lead just six minutes into the first period.
The Canadiens jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second when Plekanec wristed a rebound off a Michael Ryder shot high over Fernandez's shoulder on another power play.

Bruins right winger Chuck Kobasew cut the lead to 3-1 beating Canadiens goalie Jarolsav Halak by finishing off a slick three-way passing play with linemates David Krejci and P.J. Axelsson.
The Canadiens restored their two goal lead just minutes later when winger Chris Higgins beat Fernandez with a weak wrist shot from the top of the slot.
The goal was the first for Higgins, suited up for second game in a row, after sitting out the first four games of the exhibition schedule.
He had a chance for his second when he was awarded a penalty shot near the end of the second period, but was stopped by Fernandez on a deke attempt.
The Bruins, who were outshot 33-17 came out with a flurry in the third, slicing the Canadiens lead in half on a goal by veteran winger Glen Murray.
The goal drew a large cheer for the native of nearby Bridgewater, N.S.
The Bruins made it close when Phil Kessel beat Halak with just nine seconds left in the game.
Montreal outshot Boston 37-30.