Montreal Canadiens return to the Stanley Cup Final for the 1st time in 28 years with a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights

MONTREAL — Artturi Lehkonen scored 1 minute, 39 seconds into overtime, Carey Price stopped 37 shots and the Montreal Canadiens advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 28 years with a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

Cole Caufield and captain Shea Weber also scored, and the Canadiens eliminated the Golden Knights in Game 6 of their semifinal series. Considered mere afterthoughts after entering the playoffs with the worst record, the Canadiens have won 11 of 13 since falling behind 3-1 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their first-round series.

The Canadiens will make their playoff-leading 35th Stanley Cup Final appearance with a shot to add to their 24 championships. They will face the winner of the semifinal series between the defending champion Lightning and New York Islanders. Game 7 is Friday in Tampa, Fla.

The Golden Knights, making their third semifinal appearance in four seasons of existence, fell short of returning to the championship round since their inaugural campaign in 2018, when they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games. They were undone by a sputtering offense that managed only nine goals against the Canadiens after a 4-1 series-opening win and an anemic power play that went 0-of-17.

The game was decided off a faceoff in the Canadiens end and after Price held his ground to stop former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty set up in the left circle.

The Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki gained the Knights zone and slipped a pass to his left to Lehkonen, who lifted a shot beating Robin Lehner high on the short side.

The Golden Knights twice erased one-goal deficits. Reilly Smith scored 48 seconds after Weber opened the scoring. Alec Martinez tied it again 68 seconds into the third period by converting a rebound after Price was unable to glove Alex Pietrangelo’s shot from the top of the right circle.