Cole Caufield’s goal with 22 seconds left in overtime propelled the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 win over the visiting Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
After Montreal defenseman Lane Hutson drove towards the net and dropped back a pass to Nick Suzuki, Caufield redirected a shot-pass into an open side of Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman’s net.
Caufield and Suzuki each logged a goal and an assist, Josh Anderson also scored, and Jakub Dobes made 26 saves for Montreal, which had lost back-to-back games.
The goal was the 40th in 66 games this season for Caufield. He is currently second in the NHL in goals behind Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (45).
Pavel Zacha scored both goals for Boston, including one on the power play. Dobes also stopped Zacha’s break-in attempt at a hat trick marker in the final minute of the extra session.
Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots in Boston’s fifth game out of six decided beyond regulation (2-1-3).
Montreal had a 31-28 advantage in shots.
Swayman was dialed in early and made his first save against Anderson’s short-handed breakaway just 1:06 into the first. The same Boston power play resulted in Zacha’s game-opening goal at 2:22, as he was stationed in the slot to bang a David Pastrnak rebound past Dobes.
Montreal made a counterpunch at 10:31. After Pastrnak’s turnover near the blue line, Juraj Slafkovsky dished a feed down the crease to Suzuki, who slotted a backhand over Swayman’s blocker to tie the game.
Zacha scored his second goal of the game and career-high 22nd of the season, giving Boston the lead back at 5:41 of the middle period. The centerman redirected Viktor Arvidsson’s pass from the left side up and over Dobes.
The Canadiens drew even at 13:15. After collecting the puck off the right wall and carrying it across the top of the offensive zone, Lane Hutson triggered a shot that Anderson was able to tip in while being marked by Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
One of the best chances of a tightly-played third period for either team came with just over 3:00 left, with Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke saving a possible Kaiden Guhle goal in the crease as Swayman was out of position.
–Field Level Media
