Josh Anderson and Jake Evans each recorded a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Thursday night, snapping Boston’s seven-game home winning streak.
The victory lifts Montreal over Boston in the Atlantic Division standings. The Canadiens extended their recent point streak to 9-0-3 over their past 12 fixtures, entering the matchup just one point behind the Bruins for the division lead.
- Jeremy Swayman Volatility: Swayman was chased after allowing four goals on 17 shots, highlighting a rare night of structural defensive breakdown for Boston’s back end.
- Montreal’s Secondary Scoring: Contributions from depth pieces like Evans and Anderson continue to drive the Canadiens’ unexpected surge near the top of the division.
- Betting Futures Shift: Montreal’s 10-0-2 record when leading after two periods highlights their strong performance in those situations.
Kirby Dach opened the scoring just 2:34 into the contest with a wraparound goal. He skated behind Jeremy Swayman with a long reach, enabling Dach to finish it himself for his second marker of the season.
The opening frame saw Montreal extend its lead to two when Anderson positioned himself right in front of Swayman to redirect a rebound home, securing his eighth goal of the campaign. The Canadiens extended that cushion further when Evans scored on a breakaway after taking a pass from Anderson.
Montreal ended Swayman’s night at 11:46 of the second period. Cole Caufield fired a shot from just outside the left circle into the top corner.
The early exit and subsequent replacement by Michael DiPietro marked the first time this season that Boston made an in-game change at goaltender. DiPietro entered and stopped 13 shots, while Jacob Fowler finished with 30 saves for the Canadiens.
| Statistic | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 5 | 2 |
| Shots on Goal | 30 | 32 |
| Goaltender Saves | Jacob Fowler (30) | Jeremy Swayman (13) / Michael DiPietro (13) |
Boston finally got on the board to make it 5-0 when Phillip Danault buried a long one-timer coming from the upper portion of the right circle. Casey Mittelstadt responded with a backhand move for his first of two goals.
Mittelstadt added his second during the opening minute of the third period. This contest was the first of four regular-season meetings between the Original Six franchises. The Canadiens return home to host Colorado on Saturday, while the Bruins continue their four-homestand against Minnesota on Saturday.
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