Canadiens beat Bruins 5-2, end Boston’s seven-game streak

BOSTON: Josh Anderson and Jake Evans each had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 5-2 on Thursday night, ending Boston’s seven-game winning streak and moving past the Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings, The Associated Press reported.

Kirby Dach and Anderson scored for Montreal at TD Garden, and Evans, Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault added goals to make it 5-0, The Hockey News reported. Boston’s Casey Mittelstadt scored both Bruins goals, the first before the end of the second period with Montreal leading 5-1.

The Hockey News noted that the game felt like a homecoming for several Canadiens who played college hockey in Boston: rookie goalie Jacob Fowler, defenceman Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Chris Kreider and Alex Newhook.

Fowler made the start in goal after a strong outing earlier in the week and won for the ninth time in a row on the road, which The Hockey News said is the second-highest streak by a rookie goaltender. Brent Johnson holds the record with 11. Boston outshot Montreal 32-30 over the game, according to the same report.

Jeremy Swayman was pulled by Boston after Montreal took a 4-0 lead, and Michael DiPietro finished the game in relief. Bruins coach Marco Sturm and several players said afterward that defensive breakdowns in front of the goalie were more to blame than Swayman, Yahoo Sports reported.

Montreal moved to 12-3-4 on the season. Boston fell to 13-5-1. The Canadiens had lost in overtime on Tuesday night before the win in Boston. The Hockey News reported that Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were in the lineup despite missing some practices this week, and that Matheson returned to the Montreal blue line.

There was one worrying moment for the Canadiens in the third period. Kreider went down after Boston’s Michael Eyssimont fell on his leg and left the ice on one leg. The Hockey News reported that the team had no update on his condition after the game.

Earlier this week, Habs fans gave Carey Price a hero’s welcome at the Bell Centre.

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