The Boston Bruins were one minute away from taking at least one point from the top team in the NHL. But the Montreal Canadiens had other plans.
The Canadiens spoiled a very good effort by the B’s on Tuesday night, scoring with 1:02 remaining to escape with a 3-2 win at Bell Centre and improve to a league-best 11-1-1.
Here’s how this one went down.
COMING OUT SWINGING
No goals were scored in the first period, but there still was plenty of action.
The Bruins and Canadiens played like the bitter rivals they are, delivering some big hits in a physical first 20 minutes of play. Boston got the majority of scoring chances early, outshooting Montreal 14-5 in the period, but Habs goaltender Carey Price made a few nice stops to keep it scoreless.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
The lid suddenly came off both nets early in the second period, as the teams combined for three goals in a span of under two minutes.
Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber broke the deadlock on the power play at the 16:02 mark of the frame, unleashing a bomb from the right side that sailed past B’s goaltender Zane McIntyre.
Boston benefited from a bit of good luck just 50 seconds later. Colin Miller ricocheted a shot off the end board, and the puck bizarrely bounced off Price’s leg and back into the net to tie the score at 1-1.
The Habs regained the lead just 20 seconds later, however, on a beautiful backhand by Alex Galchenyuk off a nice feed from Alexander Radulov.
Boston also outshot Montreal 14-7 in the second period but entered the final frame trailing by one goal.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Bruins tied things up early in the third period by continuing their success on the power play. David Pastrnak took a feed from John-Michael Liles and beat Price with a screaming one-time slap shot for his ninth goal of the season.
That set up a thrilling finish, as both teams got a number of quality scoring chances down the stretch, Boston’s best coming with 2:15 remaining when Pastrnak rang the post with a wrist shot.
SHORT END OF THE STICK
It was the Habs who got the last laugh, though. Radulov fluttered a soft backhand on net that McIntyre stopped, but Paul Byron pounced on the rebound in front of the net to deliver the game-winning goal with 1:02 remaining.
Boston pulled McIntyre for the final minute and got a flurry of shots on Price, but none found the back of the net.
BITTERSWEET RESULT
There was a lot to like about the Bruins’ performance Tuesday. They outshot the Canadiens 43-23 and took the NHL’s current best team down to the final minute, while McIntyre stopped 20 of 23 shots in just his third NHL game.
But the result on the scoreboard told a different story, as Montreal pulled out its 13th win in its last 18 games against Boston.
UP NEXT
The Bruins head home Thursday to take on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who own a 5-3-2 record through 10 games. Puck drop at TD Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports Images
