(Boston) Jake DeBrusk scored his fourth goal in four games and the Boston Bruins earned their fifth straight win on Thursday, inflicting a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens.
David Pastrnak, Tyler Bertuzzi and David Krejci were the other scorers for the Bruins, who won their third straight game at home.
Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach provided the goals for the Canadian, who lost a third straight game.
CH’s Jake Allen made 17 saves, while Jeremy Swayman stopped 29 shots.
The Bruins easily lead the Bettman circuit with 115 points this season.
“It’s always frustrating to lose, even against the best team in the league,” said Canadian defenseman Mike Matheson.
Bertuzzi scored in the fifth minute of the game, with his first goal in a Bruins uniform.
After Charlie Coyle’s forecheck, Bertuzzi also found himself behind Allen’s goal on the left side. He sent the puck towards the goaltender, who was beaten when the puck deflected off Matheson’s stick.
Bertuzzi was acquired from the Detroit Red Wings on March 2.
The Bruins doubled their lead 10 seconds after passing a penalty on Connor Clifton for obstruction.
DeBrusk squeezed between David Savard and Joel Edmundson and scored on the breakaway, 13:38 into the first period.
DeBrusk collected a fourth goal in as many games, he who totaled seven points during the streak.
Shortly before the Clifton penalty ended, Justin Barron hit the post with a slap shot from the slot.
The visitors chipped away late in the first period on a five-minute penalty to A.J. Greer for a cross-check on Mike Hoffman.
Kirby Dach made a long pass to the blue line. Denis Gurianov then returned to the right circle where Suzuki hit the target with a one-timer at 19:41.
The captain of the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge scored a fifth point in his last three games.
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard came very close to creating an impasse early in the middle period.
Dach joined him from the backhand directly in front of goal, and two Bruins players had to team up with Swayman to prevent a net.
In the moments that followed, Boston regained a two-goal lead thanks to Pastrnak’s 49th at 2:36.
The Czech was setting a personal high for goals.
Bertuzzi was his accomplice, after intercepting a pass from Allen along the boards.
Midway through the engagement, Swayman made a great save on Michael Pezzetta’s close range shot. Three minutes later, Swayman extended the pad to frustrate Hoffman.
The Habs did not let go and reduced the gap to 16: 13, during a superiority.
From the right mouth, Dach redirected a deft pass from Matheson. On the game, Suzuki collected a 200th point in the NHL, in 281 games.
“I’m proud of the group,” said Canadiens coach Martin St-Louis. Physically and mentally, we were connected.
“Guys are playing like warriors, even in a non-playoff environment. This is how we will grow as a team, by the end of the season. »
Krejci, however, scored the insurance goal at 12:16 in the third period. He scored with a backhand, on the rebound of a shot from the blue line.
The Czech veteran threaded the needle in a third game in a row.
Gurianov missed a golden chance with 2:09 on the clock. Immediately after the Canadian removed Allen, but the score remained the same.
The two clubs will meet again on April 13 at the Bell Centre. This will be the last game of the regular season for both teams.
Recovered from a lower-body injury, Jake Evans returned to action after a 28-game absence. Saint-Louis called on him for 11 minutes and 58 seconds.