SEATTLE -- Brandon Montour had the fastest goal in NHL overtime history, scoring his second goal of the game four seconds into overtime to give the Seattle Kraken a 5-4 comeback victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

Chandler Stephenson won the faceoff, with the puck going toward the Montreal goal to Montour. He streaked in on goalie Jakub Dobes and beat him with a shot to the upper-right corner.

The goal matches the fastest to start any period in NHL history, with three players doing it in regulation. Claude Provost scored at four seconds of the second period for Montreal in a 1957 game against Boston, Denis Savard did it for Chicago against Hartford in the third period of a 1986 game, and James van Riemsdyk did it at the start of the second for Toronto against Philadelphia in 2014.

Seattle overcame a two-goal deficit to tie it in the third period. Jani Nyman, making his NHL debut, scored on a power play with 9:07 left, and Matty Beniers tipped in a hard shot by Vince Dunn on a power play with 2:12 left to tie it at 4-4.

Montour also opened the scoring 4:14 into the game and had two assists. Eeli Tolvanen scored his career-high 19th for Seattle, and Joey Daccord made 21 saves.

Montreal scored four straight goals to take a 4-2 lead. Juraj Slafkovsky scored twice and Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook also connected. Dobes made 30 saves.

Momentum swung Draper's way after a peculiar moment at the change of ends following the ninth game of the first set.

With a few spots of rain falling onto the court, Fritz packed his racquet into his bag and sat waiting, while Draper was ready to play.

After a short delay, Fritz was told by the umpire to get back on court - and looked completely out of sorts when he returned.

Draper remained locked in as Fritz, who had held his first five service games without too much pressure, unravelled.

With the accuracy and pace of his first serve providing a rock-solid base, the Briton was able to use his forehand to punishing effect and quickly raced ahead before clinching a standout victory.

Now he has the opportunity unlock another new career achievement by beating Shelton to reach the semi-finals of a Masters event for the first time.

"I still feel like I have a lot to prove, not only to myself, but in general," added Draper.

"I'm not a top 10 player until I'm there and I'm always hungry for more and want to prove my level."

DETROIT -- Buffalo's Alex Tuch and Detroit captain Michael Rasmussen were the first to drop the gloves in the fight-filled third period of the Red Wings' 7-3 victory Wednesday night.

They weren't even among the 11 players assessed 10-minute misconduct penalties in the final frame. Six were from Buffalo, the other five from Detroit.

The final tally from the third: 136 of the game's 150 penalty minutes, all but two of those either roughing, fighting or misconducts.

The scuffles, including a near-brawl with multiple simultaneous fights, overshadowed the fourth five-point night of Patrick Kane's 18-year career in the highest-scoring game of the season for the Red Wings, who stopped a six-game losing streak. Kane had two goals and three assists.

The Detroit lead was 6-3 when Tuch and Rasmussen faced off with eight minutes remaining. They posed with their fists raised for almost as long as the fight lasted, which was only a few seconds.

Less than a minute later, Detroit's J.T. Compher and Jordan Greenway of Buffalo got tangled up. After the whistle, their scrum was very brief -- but bad enough that both went to locker room with game misconducts. Greenway gave officials an ear full on his way off the ice.

The other nine misconducts came at the 16:51 mark, punctuated by one of the referees announcing a roughing penalty for Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson before saying, "All the other guys are going to have a misconduct." The list included Edvinsson.

Buffalo had just five players on the bench by game's end after Beck Malenstyn was sent off for roughing in the final minute along with Detroit's Moritz Seider.

"There was a lot of emotion out there," the Sabres' Tage Thompson told reporters. "And we had a lot of frustration with how things had gone during the game."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

BOSTON -- The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth Wednesday night.

But simply returning to the playoffs, after last season's heartbreaking loss to the Dallas Mavericks in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, is far from the goal. Instead, the Thunder have their eyes on a bigger prize: the franchise's first NBA championship.

So, rather than clinching that playoff berth, what mattered to Thunder guard and NBA MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was that they did it by beating the defending champion Boston Celtics on their home floor at TD Garden.

Doing so completed a sweep of the two-game season series against Boston and sent the loudest message yet about the intentions of Gilgeous-Alexander and the rest of the Thunder for the months ahead.

"It's huge," Gilgeous-Alexander said of the 118-112 win, after putting up 34 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in 39 minutes. "Because [the Celtics have] done it, because they've done what we're trying to do, the games against them are always going to be heightened. They're always going to be a little bit more exciting. They, like I said, achieved what we are trying to accomplish, and there's no better test in the NBA.

"You play for late June, and the other team had won late June. So playing against them is always fun, always a really big challenge and something that we get to test ourselves against them. I guess we passed two tests so far."

Not only did the Thunder pass those tests with flying colors, but they won both games against the Celtics with key players sitting out. In January, it was forward Chet Holmgren who was watching in street clothes because of a hip injury. Holmgren was back starring for Oklahoma City on Wednesday night with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while All-Star Jalen Williams was back home nursing a hip strain he suffered in Monday's loss to Denver.

But Oklahoma City overcame both his and Alex Caruso's (illness) absences with a similar showing to the first meeting between these teams two months ago. In that contest, Boston struggled in the second half, going 8-for-40 from the field and 3-for-24 on 3-pointers.

In this game, the Celtics were red hot from 2-point range -- they shot 15-for-19 inside the arc in the second half, including a perfect 13-for-13 on shots in the paint -- but were just 20-for-63 overall from 3-point range.

Those 63 attempted 3s tied the third most in a game by any team in NBA history.

"I thought we got amazing looks," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "I mean, that's just the shell of their defense. They protect the paint first. They fight, they try to get out, their 2-on-1 reads were really good. So I thought we generated relatively great looks throughout most of the game."

The numbers bear that out. According to Second Spectrum's tracking data, Boston attempted 47 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers Wednesday, the Celtics' second most in a game in franchise history.

In the first half, Boston went 11-for-27 on those shots. In the second? The Celtics were just 4-for-20, finishing 21% below their expected field goal percentage on those shots.

On Monday against the Nuggets, Oklahoma City shot 20% over its expected field goal percentage on 3-point attempts, per ESPN Research, which is why Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said his message to his team while it got off to a hot start from 3 was to stick to the game plan.

"Our ability to just kind of stick with it and not overreact, not start to get jumpy ... that's when you really get in trouble against them," Daigneault said. "So I just thought our maturity, our discipline to the game plan through the ups and downs of a tough 48-minute game was a really positive thing for us tonight."

So was the play of Holmgren. With Williams out, there was a spotlight on how the Thunder would handle the minutes Gilgeous-Alexander spends on the bench. They did so by turning to their two-big lineup of Isaiah Hartenstein and Holmgren, and Oklahoma City won the nine minutes Gilgeous-Alexander sat out by three points, in large part due to Holmgren's impressive showing, his highest-scoring game since returning from his hip injury last month.

"Chet was really good tonight," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "He was impressive. We're going to see him get more and more comfortable as the games go on, but he was special.

"He just played his game and he let the game come to him, and that's who Chet Holmgren is. That's who he was before the injury."

Boston's Jayson Tatum had an excellent game, going for 33 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, but its second star, Jaylen Brown, never got going. Brown finished 5-for-15, including 0-for-5 from 3, before fouling out with more than three minutes remaining.

"You play for late June, and the other team had won late June. So playing against them is always fun, always a really big challenge and something that we get to test ourselves against them."

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

He credited Oklahoma City's defense with taking him out of his rhythm.

"Tougher team sets the rules," Brown said. "They had a good level of physicality tonight, and I could be more physical. I could use my body more, I settled in some spots, but I didn't meet the level of physicality tonight. I had no free throw attempts, and that's unusual."

Boston players walked out of their arena Wednesday night knowing that if they face Oklahoma City again in a few months in the NBA Finals, they'll do so having been hurt by poor shooting in the second half of both losses to the Thunder.

But Gilgeous-Alexander, when asked repeatedly about whether the Thunder were playing at a championship level right now, said Oklahoma City has a long way to go to achieve its goals this season. And Tatum, for his part, isn't concerned about where Boston sits, either.

"Everybody has to play a little bit better," he said. "Better at the margins, the little things. You're playing against contending teams that are not really going to beat themselves. And the little things, make sure you get the 3-for-2, not fouling jump shooters at the end of the clock, live-ball turnovers, things like that, you just got to be a little bit better on.

"We all do. And we will."

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics 118-112 in a blockbuster matchup between two NBA Finals favorites Wednesday.

Behind Chet Holmgren's double-double (23 points, 15 rebounds) and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 34 points, the Western Conference-leading Thunder have defeated Boston twice this season and improved their record against Eastern Conference teams to 22-1.

Boston's Jayson Tatum had 33 points, but ultimately the Celtics faltered late despite the team tying the NBA record for 3-point attempts (63) in a non-overtime game. The Thunder used a 20-14 run to finish the game as the Celtics cooled from beyond the arc, shooting 1-9 on 3-pointers in the final eight minutes.

Wednesday's game at TD Garden showcased what makes both these teams elite: tough defense by the Thunder, a barrage of 3-point shooting by the Celtics and both teams' stars making big plays. NBA insiders Tim Bontemps, Zach Kram and Brian Windhorst break down OKC's win, what it means for both sides and what to expect from these two juggernauts during the playoffs and beyond.

Biggest takeaway from tonight's game?

Tim Bontemps: That Oklahoma City should be viewed as the biggest threat to take down Boston and become NBA champions.

There's been plenty of attempts from all corners of the league to try to pour cold water on the Thunder's chances. But OKC has now swept the season series with the Celtics, pulling away in the second half of both games, despite Holmgren missing the first meeting in Oklahoma City in January and Jalen Williams sitting out Wednesday night in Boston.

The Thunder are a deep, versatile bunch that can win in a variety of ways. Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he is an MVP candidate with his performance. Holmgren had 23 points and 15 rebounds, and his play with Isaiah Hartenstein paid dividends throughout the contest, specifically in the minutes when Gilgeous-Alexander sat out at the start of the second and fourth quarters -- minutes the Thunder won in this game.

These are the two most versatile teams in the league. Both of the games have been fabulously entertaining. But there's no one else who has faced the Celtics this season and made them look more vulnerable than this Thunder team has.

Yes, this OKC squad under coach Mark Daigneault is the youngest team in the league. Yes, questions remain about how Williams, in particular, will handle a secondary creation role in the postseason, after struggling in that position last season.

But the idea anyone else should be favored to win the West is foolish. The Thunder showed that again Wednesday night.

Brian Windhorst: OK, so the Thunder can take away so many things from this game. Holmgren's ability to handle a big role under pressure. The success of both their small and big lineups. The might of their bench depth. Even racking up a ton of free throws, something they rarely do as they are 27th in the league in attempts.

Having said that, the Celtics were 5-of-27 on 3-pointers in the second half. This is not to say it all comes down to 3-point shooting, but when the Celtics don't make their 3s they become vulnerable. This Celtics team is fantastic and vulnerable. This season has taught us this and this game reinforced it.

Zach Kram: The Thunder aren't afraid of the Celtics' 3-point attack. Boston attempted a record-tying 63 3-pointers, making 20 of them; at the end of the first quarter, a whopping 22 of Boston's 24 shot attempts had come from beyond the arc.

The Celtics started hot but cooled with a 5-for-27 mark on 3s in the second half -- reminiscent of their 9-for-46 showing in their loss in Oklahoma City in January. On most nights, the Celtics will make more of their jumpers. But despite Boston's eagerness to shoot 3s, the Thunder didn't compromise their defensive principles. They offered aggressive help on Boston's drives, forced kickout passes to the perimeter and invited the Celtics to fire away from deep. That strategy worked in both meetings this season.

The Celtics might be equally happy to have taken so many 3s, given coach Joe Mazzulla's offensive vision. But they were lacking a backup plan Wednesday -- which might be solved in a future matchup if Kristaps Porzingis is healthy and able to weaponize his potent post-up game.

Boston also missed Porzingis's presence on defense. The Thunder attempted 22 shots at the rim and produced points on 19 of them (14 made shots and five shooting fouls drawn). Al Horford is an ageless wonder who tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal in Wednesday's bout, but he's not an elite rim protector. Opponents have converted 65% of their attempts at the rim against Horford this season, versus just 52% against Porzingis.

What will determine the length of each team's playoff run?

Bontemps: For Boston, mostly health -- and to a lesser extent focus. When Boston is fully healthy, it's hard to see a team beating it four times out of seven. The Celtics are battle-tested, extraordinarily versatile and can dial it up on offense and defense to a level that hardly any team can match.

We've seen Boston repeatedly open massive leads over the past two weeks against elite teams during this seven-game homestand -- even while missing at least one, and often multiple, key players.

But the Celtics have repeatedly let those leads slip away -- a consistent problem. Boston's 3-point heavy offensive attack, in particular, is prone to variance good and bad. But if the Celtics are healthy, I won't be picking against them in a seven-game series.

Windhorst: OKC is a defensive juggernaut with everything you need in the modern game: depth, length, height, wing stoppers, a switchable big, on-ball menaces and rim protectors. Offensively, it is not as complete. Gilgeous-Alexander carries a heavy load -- he has more than 100 more isolation baskets than any player in the league. That highlights the Thunder's paradox: They have a top-five offense, but a bottom-five assist rate. OKC also doesn't have a rotation player who shoots over 40% on 3s. Its offensive resilience is its weakness, and if a team sells out on slowing SGA, there might be some pressure on the rest of that offense. How the Thunder cope with that is where the rubber meets the road.

Kram: Because the Eastern Conference is so top-heavy, the Celtics should coast to the conference finals. They're guaranteed to face an overmatched opponent in the first round, as every East squad in a play-in spot has a losing record, and Boston has crushed the third-seeded New York Knicks in every meeting this season. But the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the three best teams in the league, along with the Celtics and Thunder, which means Boston will have to overcome a high hurdle to reach the Finals.

Conversely, in a deeper Western Conference field, the Thunder might face three challenging opponents on their potential Finals path -- though not any individual team is as dangerous as Cleveland. According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI), after the top trio of the Thunder, Cavaliers and Celtics, seven of the next eight best teams are in the West. And some of them have played Oklahoma City well this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets both split four meetings with the Thunder, and the Warriors beat them in two out of three even before they added Jimmy Butler III. A Los Angeles Lakers team with LeBron James and Luka Doncic wouldn't be an easy out, either.

Which team has the better five-year outlook?

Bontemps: There is no team with a better five-year outlook than Oklahoma City, between its collection of young players and draft picks. The much more interesting question is which team has the better two- or three-year outlook?

The most important thing for Boston is that Tatum is under contract throughout his prime, giving the Celtics one of the best players in the league at its most desired positional archetype -- an elite two-way wing -- to build around. But with a $500 million payroll and luxury tax bill looming next season, plus the team currently being up for sale, there are a lot of questions about where this franchise is headed.

What level of winning will it take for the Celtics to run it back? The expectation has been that becoming the first team to defend a title since the 2018 Golden State Warriors -- and having a chance to become the first to go for three in a row since Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Lakers of the early 2000s -- will be too much of an opportunity to pass. But all of that will be determined by the team's new owners, who could be in place as soon as this spring. For the Thunder, no such questions will be stopping them anytime soon.

Windhorst: This week, Sportico published the Celtics financials as a round of bids came in for the sale of the franchise. Last season, including the massive influx their run to the title meant for their bottom line, the Celtics revenue was projected at less than $500 million. They are a very healthy and profitable team, but they can't survive spending more money on payroll than they take in. This is a major reason why the team is for sale, regardless of what might be presented publicly. Is there a way to cut payroll and keep the team as a championship contender? Absolutely, and the Celtics are probably working on a plan. But to say Boston has a better five-year outlook at this point would be disingenuous.

Kram: Over the next five years, I would take Oklahoma City ahead of every team in the NBA. The Thunder already have the league's best young core, and they can keep replenishing with talented youngsters due to their hoard of draft picks -- or trade those picks for win-now upgrades. Barring injury, the only obstacle that might get in Oklahoma City's way of repeated 60-win campaigns is if the team's ownership group doesn't want to pay to keep Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Holmgren together on large extensions.

But that financial complication is already affecting the Celtics, who are above the second apron this season and set to be well above that threshold next year. Once the Celtics' sale is resolved, will the franchise's new owners be comfortable paying hundreds of millions of dollars in luxury tax payments?

A Celtics-Thunder Finals matchup would be____?

Bontemps: A dream matchup for any basketball fan and one we could potentially see over and over again in the years to come. We explained above how Oklahoma City is poised to be in the mix moving forward. And even with the financial unknowns hanging over the Celtics, they still have so much firepower for at least the next couple of seasons. Barring injury and as long as the core team remains intact, Boston is going to be fighting for Eastern Conference supremacy.

But both teams are deep and have coaches in Mazzulla and Daigneault who are willing to experiment in different ways. All of that portends what would be a fascinating matchup that any fan should enjoy watching.

Windhorst: Big brother-little brother. The Celtics were a team of promise for years, their young core built through the draft and savvy trades opening a window they struggled to finally break through. It wouldn't be accurate to say the Thunder were built in Boston's image, but their processes are related. The Celtics are a team of the moment, the Thunder are a team of the future. Boston wants that to remain the reality; OKC wants to progress. It's a natural matchup.

Kram: A clash of unstoppable forces and immovable objects. On one end of the floor, the Celtics lead the league in made 3s, while the Thunder allow the lowest opponent 3-point percentage. On the other end, the Thunder are led by the NBA's best scoring guard in Gilgeous-Alexander, while the Celtics have perhaps the best defensive guard tandem. Both teams rank in the top five in offensive and defensive ratings.

Modern playoff basketball is all about matchup hunting, but neither the Celtics or Thunder have any weak links or matchups to hunt. The players in their rotations can all shoot, create and hold their own on defense.

We haven't had an NBA Finals reach a Game 7 since 2016, when the Cavaliers completed their 3-1 comeback against the Warriors. But Celtics-Thunder would be so perfectly matched that it might be destined to go the distance.