Bruins Blow Lead Late In Regulation, Then Top Canadiens 2-1 In OT

Tuukka Rask made 30 saves, and after Boston lost a 1-0 lead late in regulation, Ryan Spooner scored with 1:40 remaining in overtime to lift the Bruins to a 2-1 road victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday.

Bruins Blow Lead Late In Regulation, Then Top Canadiens 2-1 In OT

Spooner shot past goalkeeper Carey Price after taking a return pass from defenseman Torey Krug. 

“It was a great pass, and then when I came in, I was going to go backhand and I saw that he was playing deep, so I just tried to fake a shot, and it was good,” Spooner said.

Rookie Austin Czarnik scored on his 24th birthday, and the Bruins (16-12-2) snapped a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).

Montreal’s Paul Byron scored his 10th goal with 3:12 left in the third period to tie the game 1-1. It marked the fifth time this season Rask has lost a shutout bid with 5:00 or less remaining in the third.

“Nothing you can do about it, really,” Rask said. “I just try to battle and tough bounces happen.”

Price made 27 saves for the Canadiens (19-6-4), who outscored their opponents 15-3 while winning the first two of a four-game homestand. Montreal, which is 14-1-2 at home, had its highest-scoring game in 26 years in a 10-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

“I think everybody in the building appreciated the intensity and speed of the game,” Price said. “I thought it was exciting at both ends.”

Czarnik scored his third goal of the season with 1:05 remaining in the second period to put Boston ahead 1-0. He shot from the left side after a delayed penalty was signaled against Montreal.

Rask stacked his right pad to make an amazing save on Tomas Plekanec at 9:38 of the second. Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher passed on a 2-on-1 to set up Plekanec’s scoring chance right after Bruins forward David Pastrnak one-timed a slap shot off the left post.

Montreal lost at home for the third time this season.

The Bruins will next visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, while the Canadiens will host the San Jose Sharks on Friday.

MONTREAL, QC – DECEMBER 12: Ryan Spooner #51 of the Boston Bruins skates in all alone with the puck against Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens in overtime during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on December 12, 2016 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)