''To the players' credit, they've really stepped up their work ethic, their attitudes, and they're playing spirited hockey right now," said coach Mike Sullivan. ''Because of that, they're getting results."
The Bruins had a chance to get on the board at 7:03 of the opening period when P.J. Axelsson was awarded a penalty shot. Defenseman Nick Boynton sprung Axelsson on a breakaway with a long pass. Montreal defenseman Mathieu Dandenault hauled down Axelsson, sending him flying into the net.
On the penalty shot, Axelsson stayed on his forehand, but failed to beat goalie Cristobal Huet to the blocker side.
The Canadiens went up, 1-0, at 15:14 on a beautiful goal by Tomas Plekanec.
Defenseman Sheldon Souray started the play, hitting Plekanec with a long lead pass. With Boynton chasing him from behind and Glen Murray diving at him from the slot, Plekanec roofed a shot from the left circle into the right corner of the net.
The Bruins thought they had pulled even early in the second period on a goal by Marco Sturm but it was nullified. Sturm had knocked down a pass through the crease with a high stick before firing a shot into the net.
In a span of 1 minute 13 seconds, the Bruins took the lead on a pair of power-play goals.
Niklas Sundstrom was whistled for tripping at 10:03 and was joined in the penalty box by Chris Higgins, giving the Bruins a five-on-three advantage for 1:21. At the 11-minute mark, Murray took a pass from Brad Stuart and one-timed a shot past Huet from the top of the left circle. It was the 15th goal of the season for Murray, who was playing his first game after missing 10 because of a deep bone bruise in his right foot.
The Bruins made it 2-1 at 12:13 on a terrific relay from Brad Boyes to Patrice Bergeron, who blew through several Canadiens on his way to the net. Bergeron, charging down the left slot, fed Boyes on the right side of the slot and Boyes relayed back to Bergeron, who buried it for his 17th of the season. Boyes increased his scoring streak to eight games (five goals and eight assists). Boyes said nothing about Bergeron surprises him anymore.
