Final: Canadiens 6, Bruins 2 - Canadiens score 4 unanswered goals in 3rd period, Bruins spend 14 minutes in penalty box

The Boston Bruins disappoint in a 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Boston became their own worst enemy. Costly turnovers and too much time spent in the penalty box became the factor in this loss.

In one of the most important games of the season so far, the Bruins came out with a lot of energy. Tanner Jeannot and Josh Anderson fought after the opening draw, setting the tone for another scrappy game. Then halfway into the first period, Nikita Zadorov and Arber Xhekaj squared up for the second fight in nine minutes.

Once the scraps finished up, the Canadiens were the first team to get on the board. A poor turnover by Mason Lohrei lead to Montreal cycling the puck in Boston's zone. From Boston's goal line, Sammy Blais delivered a shot at an awkward angle to put Montreal up 1-0.

The initial Hab's lead didn't last long as the Bruins responded a minute later. Lohrei kept the puck in Montreal's zone after a shot attempt from Boston, and he delivered a one-timer pass to Marat Khusnutdinov to tie the game.

The Bruins weren't done scoring. They landed on a power play with two minutes left in the period, and Alex Steeves scored at the right face-off dot with 18 seconds remaining.

In the second period, the Canadiens responded with an early goal by Ivan Demidov. A poor breakout from Boston's neutral zone lead to easy breakaway from Demidov, and the 20 year old deked out Swayman tucking the puck in on his forehand.

It was a quiet period for the Bruins offensively. They had to kill a four minute double minor from Steeves, but they did have an early power play opportunity.

Elias Lindholm scored with only a few second remaining in the second period, but the referees called the goal off due to goaltender interference. Marco Sturm decided not to challenge the calling.

Entering the period tied 2-2, the Bruins played their worst period of hockey this season. It started with a rebound goal from Zachary Bolduc off a transition backhand shot from Nick Suzuki. Sturm decided to challenge the goal for goalie interference, but the goal stayed.

Boston received a penalty due to the failed challenge, and Jeannot received a cross-checking penalty to give Montreal a 5-on-3 power play. Cole Caufield scored on the 5-on-3, and the Bruins stayed on the kill.

While on the penalty kill, Hampus Lindholm received a tripping call continuing the parade of penalties.  Suzuki scored Montreal's third unanswered goal, and the bleeding continued.

A one-timer goal from Juraj Slafkovsky added salt to the wound, giving Montreal their sixth goal to wrap up a terrible period for Boston.

This was an important game for the Bruins. This home stand didn't go well, but a win tonight against a team they were vying for in the Atlantic Division race would've looked great. 

However, they failed to stay out of the penalty box and play competitive defense. Boston spent 14 total minutes in the penalty box, and the undisciplined penalties in the third period didn't help either.

The Bruins play their next game on Dec 27th when they face the Sabres. Puck drop in Buffalo will be at 7 p.m.

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WHO: Bruins (20-16-1) at Canadiens (19-12-5)
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: TD Garden, Boston
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub

PROJECTED LINES

Boston

Geekie - E. Lindholm - Pastrnak

Mittelstadt - Zacha - Arvidsson

Jeannot - Minten - Kastelic

Steeves - Kuraly - Khusnutdinov

Zadorov - McAvoy

H. Lindholm - Peeke

Kolyachonok - Lohrei

Swayman

Korpisalo

Canadiens

Caufield - Suzuki - Bolduc

Slafkovsky - Kapanen - Demidov

Texier - Danualt - Anderson

Blais - Veleno - Gallagher

Matheson - Dobson

Hutson - Carrier

Xhekaj - Engstrom

Fowler

Dobes

PREGAME NOTES

The Boston Bruins play the final game of their five-game home stand with a matchup against the Montreal Canadiens before Christmas.

Two points separate the Bruins and Canadiens in the Atlantic division. The Bruins know this is an important game. “We can feel the importance. You can call it the most important game we’ve had this year. It’s a big game for us and we need to bounce back ahead of the Christmas break,” David Pastrnak said on Monday. “It’s the Montreal Canadiens. It’s very easy to get motivated, especially the way the last couple of games went. It’s a must-win.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired former Bruin Marc Savard from their coaching staff. Savard was in charge of Toronto's power play, which ranks dead last in the NHL at 13.3%.