Canadiens end 10-game losing streak against Bruins with 3-2 OT win

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There’s a reason why online gambling companies make a ton of money.

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The Canadiens’ 3-2 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at the Bell Centre was a perfect example why.

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The Bruins came into the game with an 11-1-1 record, while the rebuilding Canadiens were 6-5-2. The Bruins had won 10 straight games against the Canadiens — nine in regulation time and one in overtime. On paper, it looked like the Canadiens had little to no chance of winning.

But they did.

Nick Suzuki (power play) and Brendan Gallagher scored in regulation time for the Canadiens and Kaiden Guhle got the winner in overtime. Pavel Zacha and Brad Marchand (power play) scored for the Bruins.

The Canadiens hadn’t beaten the Bruins since Nov. 5, 2019, when they won 5-4 at the Bell Centre after getting two goals from Victor Mete and singles from Tomas Tatar, Paul Byron and Ben Chiarot.

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It was so long ago Gallagher couldn’t even remember the game. He is one of only three current Canadiens who played in that game four years ago, along with Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia, who was a healthy scratch Saturday night.

There’s still something special about this Original Six matchup on Hockey Night in Canada at the Bell Centre and this was a fantastic game.

It didn’t start well for the Canadiens when Zacha scored on the Bruins’ first shot only 36 seconds into the game, deflecting a point shot from defenceman Charlie McAvoy past goalie Samuel Montembeault. It marked the seventh time in eight games the Canadiens gave up the first goal.

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But the Canadiens put their heads down and worked their butts off the rest of the way, eventually taking the lead when Suzuki and Gallagher both scored in the first 51 seconds of the third period. Marchand tied it up at 12:58 and Guhle sent Montreal fans home happy with his first goal of the season at 2:12 of OT. These two teams will meet again next Saturday night in Boston.

After the game, head coach Martin St. Louis said what made him most proud of his players was the way they killed off a 5-on-3 power play the Bruins had six minutes into the third period after Alex Newhook and Gallagher were both sent to the box at the same time for hooking penalties. Christian Dvorak made a huge shot block near the end of the Bruins’ power play.

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“Winning hurts,” St. Louis said. “You want to win, it’s going to hurt. We did that tonight.”

Suzuki’s goal was his sixth of the season — tying Sean Monahan for the team lead — and he has now scored in four straight games and five of the last six. Gallagher’s goal — his fifth of the season — was a classic Gally Goal as he banged in a rebound in front of the net while falling to the ice.

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“Gally’s been great for us,” St. Louis said. “He’s a great example … he’s a good leader. Big goal for us tonight. I’m really happy for Gally the way he’s playing.”

St. Louis added Gallagher is in a good place both physically and mentally after three injury-riddled seasons. He also has regular linemates in fellow veterans Monahan and Tanner Pearson, something Gallagher hasn’t had since Phillip Danault and Tatar left the Canadiens after the 2020-21 season. The Tatar-Danault-Gallagher line had been one of the best in the NHL at five-on-five.

“I’m really enjoying playing with them,” said Gallagher, who is on pace to score 29 goals. “I think they complement what I’m able to do really well and I’m able to use their skillsets. The three of us really play a deep game. We cycle the puck, we use each other well and we think the game similarly. It’s nice when you understand where your linemates are going to be and playing with a couple of guys you can build that chemistry with it’s something we’ve enjoyed.”

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This was a fun game to watch and Gallagher said it was also a fun game to play.

“You go through an 82-game season, I think some games are a little bit more enjoyable,” he said. “You get Boston at home on a Saturday night, the fans bring some atmosphere. We’re playing one of the best teams in the National Hockey League. We brought out A game tonight.”

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The Canadiens will need their A game again Sunday when the Vancouver Canucks will be at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN 690 Radio, 98.5 FM). The Canucks have a 10-3-1 record after losing 5-2 to the Maple Leafs on Saturday night in Toronto.

“It was fun,” Gallagher said about finally beating the Bruins. “We should enjoy it. You should go home, have a smile on your face, enjoy the result. But when you wake up tomorrow, it’s in the past. The league has a very short memory. We have another tough test against a very good hockey team. They’re going to be hungry. They lost tonight, so they’re going to be looking for a result.

“It’s going to be another fun night here.”

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