Bruins score four in third period, rally past Canadiens

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins scored four goals in the third period to rally for a 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden on Sunday.

Charlie Coyle had two goals in the third, including the go-ahead goal, and Charlie McAvoy scored twice for the Bruins (8-5-0). Jeremy Swayman made 27 saves.
"In the second period, we had zero puck luck. In the third, we stuck with it and got lots, so good for us," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "It's not one of 82 (games) when it's against Montreal. It isn't to me, and it shouldn't be to anybody that knows anything about the Boston Bruins. … There's always more (energy). We want to beat them every time we're on the ice."

Michael Pezzetta scored his first NHL goal, and Sam Montembeault made 36 saves for the Canadiens (4-11-2), who have lost five of six, including 3-2 in overtime at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
"(Playing) on a back to back, you've got to be making strong plays and strong decisions," Montreal coach Dominique Ducharme said. "Just a few plays can keep you in the zone, then everyone's tired, it's hard for the [defense] to change, and it snowballs. So, we've got to be better that way. That's something we know how to do, and we've got to do it better."
Joel Armia gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 8:09 of the first period, finishing a 3-on-1 rush with a shot to the top right corner.
McAvoy tied it 1-1 at 8:27 of the second. Montembeault saved Taylor Hall's shot, but McAvoy was first to the rebound in front of the crease.

Pezzetta scored at 16:25 to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead, deflecting Adam Brooks' shot, and the rebound bounced in off the skate of Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton.
"I've practiced tipping pucks a lot … it was nice to get one," Pezzetta said. "Unfortunately, it was in a loss, so it doesn't feel as good. I'm just trying to build my game and get better every single day. … Obviously it's not the outcome we want right now."
McAvoy scored on the power play to tie it 2-2 at 2:14 of the third with a wrist shot from the point that deflected off Canadiens forward Christian Dvorak in the high slot.
Coyle scored to give Boston a 3-2 lead at 5:58. Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry tried to clear a rebound from in front of the crease, and the puck banked in off Coyle's head.
"I'll take more of those. Sometimes you get a little lucky," Coyle said. "You try to play the right way, and sometimes you get bounces going your way. I got a really good bounce there. It was a big goal. … It got me right in the visor. I just got lucky. It doesn't happen very often."
Coyle made it 4-2 at 9:05, and Hall scored an empty-net goal at 18:02 for the 5-2 final.
NOTES:
Cayden Primeau
was the Canadiens backup goalie after Jake Allen was injured in a collision with Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin on Saturday. … McAvoy had the first multigoal game of his NHL career. … Swayman became the fourth goalie in NHL history to win at least his first eight regular-season home games. He joins Gord McRae (10-0-0 from Jan. 31-March 8, 1975 with the Toronto Maple Leafs), Ilya Sorokin (8-0-0 from Feb. 28-April 11, 2021 with the New York Islanders) and Michel Plasse (8-0-0 from March 30, 1971-Feb. 14, 1973 with the St. Louis Blues and Montreal). … It was the 750th game between the Bruins and Canadiens, and the first in 641 days, a 4-1 Bruins win on Feb. 12, 2020. … Boston forward Craig Smith was a healthy scratch for a second straight game.