By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre 3-2 Saturday Night to improve their record to 12-8-0. After 20 games, the Bruins find themselves at the top of the Atlantic Division.
First Period
It did not take long to get the excitement pumping for this game. Nikita Zadorov and Jayden Struble dropped the gloves for a spirited bout right off the opening faceoff.
Soon after, a physical sequence from both teams raised the intensity even more. Tanner Jeannot and Arber Xhekaj dropped the gloves before Jeannot dropped Xhekaj. Two fights occurred before four minutes had gone off the clock.
The energy was palpable in the arena. The Montreal faithful in attendance were giving their full-throated stamp of approval to the physical play early on in the matchup between the two Original Six foes.
After matching minors for roughing were called, the Bruins went to work on the four-on-four approaching the middle of the period. Zadorov took advantage of the open ice and scooted into Montreal’s zone. He fed the puck to David Pastrnak on the left side, who then delivered a slick pass to Marat Khusnutdinov. The winger fired the puck towards the net from the right faceoff circle. The attempt bounced off the sliding Sam Montembeault, who was out of position after overcommitting to the potential Pastrnak shot, and into the back of the net.
But on the power play, the Bruins would face problems. After pressuring the Canadiens during the five-on-four, Jake Evans picked up the loose puck and rushed up the ice, creating a two-on-one. Evans ripped home the game-tying goal past Jeremy Swayman right before Pavel Zacha could lift his stick on the backcheck.
The Bruins then had to deal with 1:28 of a five-on-three for the Canadiens with 3:12 left in the period. Boston’s killers were great with their structure to thwart Montreal’s power play. The entertaining opening period ended with a goal aside.
Second Period
Early in the period, right after Montembeault stoned Morgan Geekie on a clean breakaway, the Bruins won an offensive zone faceoff. Mark Kastelic corralled the puck behind the goal line and found Mason Lohrei on the left point. The young defenseman fired a chance home after the Montreal netminder lost the puck through a maze of bodies. Boston reclaimed the one-goal lead.
Nearing the middle of the contest, the Bruins would go shorthanded for another extended five-on-three. And again, the Boston killers stayed firm and were able to limit high danger chances. But then Hampus Lindholm went to the box for interference. Bruins color analyst Andy Brickley voiced his displeasure on NESN, saying the penalty call was “Pathetic.”
During the shorthanded sequence, Charlie McAvoy had to be helped off the ice after a puck hit him in the face. But the Bruins and Swayman again found a way to dig deep and keep the puck out of the net on the penalty kill.
When Boston got a power play of their own, they got to work. Setting up to the left of the cage in between the faceoff circle and goal line, Zacha made a sensational backhand feed between his legs to Viktor Arvidsson. The forward promptly ripped home the insurance score from the slot. It was Arvidsson’s sixth goal in the past 11 games and 200th of his career.
After matching minors, the Bruins kept the puck for much of the four-on-four. But after an offensive zone giveaway, Nick Suzuki sprung Cole Caufield, who cut Boston’s lead in half by lighting the lamp on an impressive stick-handling display and finishing the one-on-one opportunity against Swayman. Boston took a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Third Period
With just over four minutes left, Khusnutdinov ripped a shot from the rush off the crossbar, which would have given the Bruins some breathing room. But the score remained 3-2 late in the third period.
With the goalie pulled, the Canadiens pressured during their six-on-five opportunity. But Swayman and the Bruins skaters stood firm. Without McAvoy, who did not return after the incident, Boston kept the puck out of their net to secure the road win.
Swayman submitted one of his better games of the season, only allowing two goals, both directly off rushes, and made 28 saves. Boston went a perfect seven for seven on the kill, including two extended five-on-threes. It was an impressive victory for the Bruins, who overcame adversity to come out of the contest not only with two points but also the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins will return home to take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. If you want to see the Atlantic-leading Bruins in person at TD Garden, or during the team’s upcoming California road trip, consider using this official StubHub Ticket-affiliated link here for the most competitive concert and sporting event tickets in the North American region.
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