Charlie Coyle was in the right spot to put the Boston Bruins ahead for good in their 5-2 win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens in the first meeting between the two rivals in nearly two years on Sunday night.
David Pastrnak’s shot bounced off Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault, and the rebound went to defenseman Jeff Petry, whose attempt to throw the puck out of the crease deflected off of Coyle and in to put Boston up 3-2 at 5:58 of the third period.
Coyle scored again just over three minutes later to make it 4-2 after beating a defenseman to a loose puck in the right circle, charging the net and lifting the puck past Montembeault high stick-side at 9:05. Taylor Hall added an empty-netter for Boston with 1:58 remaining.
Charlie McAvoy also had a pair of goals for the Bruins, who have won back-to-back games and five of their last seven overall. Boston rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman recorded 27 saves to remain undefeated at home with an 8-0-0 record.
Joel Armia and Michael Pezzetta each netted their first goals of the season for the Canadiens, who dropped their second straight game.
It was the first game between the Original Six rivals since Feb. 12, 2020, due to pandemic-altered scheduling.
Montembeault stopped 36 of 40 shots for Montreal. The 25-year-old goalie was called up to make the start against the Bruins following the Canadiens 3-2 overtime loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Armia scored 8:09 into the opening period after skating into the right circle on an odd-man rush and firing a wrist shot past Swayman.
McAvoy tied it at 1-1 at 8:27 of the second after gathering a loose puck in front of the net and slamming it home through traffic. Pezzetta’s deflection goal in the slot at 16:25 restored the Canadiens’ lead entering the third.
McAvoy made a wrister from the high slot for his second goal of the night on a power play at 2:14 of the third to make the score 2-2.
–Field Level Media