Canadiens beat the Bruins 4-1 for their 3rd straight victory.
Canadiens beat the Bruins 4-1 for their 3rd straight victory.
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and Boston Bruins defenceman Ian Mitchell (14) push each other while lineperson Jonathan Deschamps (80) intervenes during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and Boston Bruins defenceman Ian Mitchell (14) push each other while lineperson Jonathan Deschamps (80) intervenes during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) and Boston Bruins defenceman Ian Mitchell (14) push each other while lineperson Jonathan Deschamps (80) intervenes during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) fight during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Boston Bruins left wing Cole Koepke (45) fight during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Montreal, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal during overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Montreal, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson (8) shoots on Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) while defenceman Ian Mitchell (14) defends during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson (8) shoots on Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) while defenceman Ian Mitchell (14) defends during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Peeke (52) clears the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) falls over goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Peeke (52) clears the puck as Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) falls over goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring during second period NHL hockey action against the Boston Bruins in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring during second period NHL hockey action against the Boston Bruins in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov (91) vie for the puck during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Kaiden Guhle (21) and Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov (91) vie for the puck during first period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman David Savard (58) defends against the Boston Bruins defenceman Mason Lohrei (6) in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens defenceman David Savard (58) defends against the Boston Bruins defenceman Mason Lohrei (6) in front of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault (35) during second period NHL hockey action in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Christian Dvorak (28) celebrates after scoring during second period NHL hockey action against the Boston Bruins in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens centre Christian Dvorak (28) celebrates after scoring during second period NHL hockey action against the Boston Bruins in Montreal, on Thursday, April 3, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)
MONTREAL (AP) — Nick Suzuki and Brendan Gallagher each had a goal and an assist, Sam Montembeault made 18 saves and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.
Christian Dvorak and Cole Caufield — with his team-leading 35th — also scored for Montreal. The Canadiens hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the New York Rangers.
Suzuki assisted on Caufield’s goal for his 80th point of the season, then added an empty-netter for his 26th goal of the season. He’s the second Canadiens player in the past 25 years to reach the 80-point mark, joining Alex Kovalev (84 in 2007-08).
Elias Lindholm ended Montembeault’s shutout bid with 6:41 remaining.
Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves for Boston. Last in the Eastern Conference, the Bruins have lost seven in a row.
Takeaways
Bruins: Swayman kept the Bruins in it with several high-end saves. The Canadiens dominated the shots 17-2 in the second. Boston recorded its first shot with 6:28 left in the period.
Canadiens: The third line of Dvorak, Gallagher and Josh Anderson keeps making an impact. The trio has combined for 13 goals in the last 10 games, including five from Dvorak, who scored his 11th of the season Thursday.
Key moment
The game featured several hard hits and scrums after the whistle between the Original Six rivals. Tensions boiled over when Montreal’s Kaiden Guhle fought Boston’s Cole Koepke with six minutes remaining in the second period.
Key stat
Boston has a 10-game winless streak (0-9-1) for the first time since 2009-10.
Up next
Both teams play at home Saturday night. The Bruins will face Carolina, and the Canadiens will play Philadelphia.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl