The Montreal Canadiens came into TD Garden fresh off a season-opening 1-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night in Montreal. The Bruins, meanwhile, made three lineup changes after their messy performance on Tuesday in Florida.
As expected, Jeremy Swayman got the start. Also expected was a breather for Mason Lohrei (minus-3, the most chaotic of all Boston defensemen in Sunrise). Parker Wotherspoon took his place, skating on the third pairing opposite Andrew Peeke. The other change was Riley Tufte in for Max Jones.
FIRST PERIOD
Bruins with immediate pressure and shots on goal, the last one drawing a penalty …
Powerplay: Hampus Lindholm’s powerplay goal two minutes into the game would have been an appropriate reward for how the Bruins started this one, but it was ruled upon video review that Justin Brazeau interfered with Cayden Primeau, negating the PPG.
Mark Kastelic blocked a shot and needed a shove to skate to the bench, provided by a Montreal (!) player.
Nikita Zadorov held Kirby Dach at 6:36, putting Montreal on the powerplay.
Jeremy Swayman, making his first start, had stopped a puck at the left post 5:13 into the game. After some delay, that attempt went on the board as Montreal’s first shot on goal.
The Bruins have won seven of the game’s first 10 faceoffs.
Mike Matheson made an excellent knockdown to keep a clearing attempt in the Boston zone, but Swayman made the ensuing save.
Old friend Brendan Gallagher took the wind out of the crowd’s sails, deflecting Joel Armia’s point shot top corner with 10 seconds left on Zadorov’s penalty to make it 1-0 Montreal. Brad Marchand had just run over Alex Newhook, setting the home crowd ablaze.
Dach was alone for a one-timer, but Swayman was on the spot to turn it away. Then Armia went to the box at 10:58. Five seconds into the penalty, Charlie McAvoy’s shot found its way through a screen to tie the game at 1-1.
Cole Caulfield picked up a loose puck and tucked it inside the left post to quickly put the Canadiens ahead 2-1, right while McAvoy’s name was being announced over the public address.
Kastelic continues to be Boston’s most impactful forward, tying the game at 2-2. Zadorov and Koepke with the assists.
The quick Montreal line of Caulfield, captain Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky generated a play at the right post that resulted in a penalty on Trent Frederic with 5:34 left in the first period.
The Bruins kept the pressure on, and Elias Lindholm redirected Zadorov’s shot off other sticks and in behind Primeau with 1:37 left, giving the Bruins their first lead of the season.
SECOND PERIOD
Coyle draws a penalty, and the Bruins go to the powerplay.
Coyle goes for high-sticking at 9:58.
Beecher goes for a clear and elects to pass across to Hampus Lindholm, whom he doesn”t realize had lost his stick. Suzuki had a clean look as a result, but Swayman reached out and grabbed his shot.
Matheson trips Marchand at 11:07, creating a 4-on-4 for 32 seconds, then a powerplay for Boston.
Pastrnak gives Boston breathing room (4-2) at 15:56 with a one-timer from the high slot off a fluffy feed from Pavel Zacha that eluded two Montreal defenders.
Cole Koepke makes it 5-2 following up on a power move by Beecher. The Bruins are outworking the Canadiens.
McAvoy off for tripping with 1:59 left in a second period that has belonged to the Bruins.
Bruins get the kill and, with one second of McAvoy’s PIM to carry over into the third period, go to second intermission up 5-2.
THIRD PERIOD
Once upon a time, there was a movement to influence a change in rule on a carryover penalty to begin the next period with the faceoff in the attacking zone. In this case, even if Montreal can use the McAvoy reentry from the box to its advantage, it would not be a PPG.
Exhausting shift for Coyle, beginning with adventure in his own end and ending with a quality shot at Primeau. The Canadiens dogged Coyle after taking away his passing lanes, but the big centerman fought for the puck, got it back, skated it out of the defensive zone, headmanned a pass to Marchand and became the give-and-go target. Coyle barely had a breath left in his lungs when he flung his wrister that deflected out of play.
One thing the Bruins have done very well tonight is sustain a net-front presence, going to the net for screens, deflections and rebounds.
Caulfield to the box … Zacha, stationed at the right post, has a wide-open side but cannot control the puck.
Swayman stops Dach at the right post, but McAvoy to the box at 6:35 of the third for delay of game.
With 11 minutes left, the fans break out into “Ole, ole, ole, ole …” only to get drowned out by the canned music, and Montreal then converts on the powerplay five seconds later. 5-3 with 10:55 left.
Stat oddity of the night with under nine minutes left: Koepke is back out on the ice, with a goal and an assist in only 6:14 of prior ice time.
Brazeau has a lane, high glass.
Cliche Alert: Next goal’s a big one.
Just for his hits on the forecheck, Kastelic is the clubhouse leader for the 7th Player Award. It cannot be overstated how important this element will become to an improved Bruins team this season, especially regarding a playoff run.
Gallagher left open, as a tired Bruins defense gives up the fourth goal, and now we’ve got a nailbiter with 4:17 remaining. 5-4 Boston.
Koepke makes it a three-point night 17 seconds later when Kastelic’s shot deflects from a bad angle, 6-4 Bruins.
A tired Marchand gets a one-on-one and elects to flip the puck out of play to take advantage of the rule putting the ensuing faceoff in the attacking zone. Marchand is livid as he is whistled for delay of game on an intentional act “delay of game” with 2:55 left in regulation.
Montreal pulls Primeau, and Elias Lindholm ties up a dump meant for him to intercept.
Beecher has an empty net with 1:01 remaining but is ruled offside. Faceoff at center ice. Not sure if a mistake was made on the offsides call, but if so that was a goal in the making taken away by official interference.
3.6 left, Bruins go to 1-1-0 with LA in here Saturday afternoon.
Drive safely.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 