After a poor showing in Ottawa, Montreal was back in action.
Tonight, the club took on the Boston Bruins. What could be better?
Here’s Martin St-Louis’ line-up:
Tonight’s lineup
Tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/mhxEeREjGz
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 21, 2024
And the visitors’:
A few familiar faces return. pic.twitter.com/Y7XVFyVnFS
– Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 21, 2024
At the start of the game, the Bruins’ 1988 edition was honored for its playoff run that year.
The organization waited for the Habs to visit before doing so. A little slobbery, but well done.
Still, it’s tasty. The Bruins take the time to celebrate, before the eyes of the current edition of the Habs, the 1988 edition that finally ended 45 years of playoff jinx against the Habs.
It’s just slobbery enough, but it was a milestone for Bruins fans.– Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) January 21, 2024
From the start of the game, both teams were awarded power plays.
At first, the Bruins were unable to capitalize.
Not so for the Habs, however.
Cole Caufield found the back of the net again, increasing his streak of games with at least one goal to five.
Goal Caufield is back!
Cole, Cole, Cole and Cole, thanks#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/NYHbG73614
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 21, 2024
However, the Bruins, the best team in the East, tied the game later on.
Brandon Carlo took advantage of Justin Barron’s poor positioning to thread the needle.
Brandon Carlo scores in his return to the lineup.
He jumps into the play and knocks home a puck off a feed from Trent Frederic.
1-1 game. pic.twitter.com/pItR24I5Zq
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
And towards the end of the period, Joshua Roy showed the full extent of his talent.
What a pass to Joel Armia, who couldn’t have asked for more!
GOAL! 🏒 Joel Armia – Boston Bruins 1:2 Montreal Canadiens #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/YZjUliPzep
– Sajdlík (@Sajdlik667) January 21, 2024
The Roy-Monahan-Armia trio is playing very well.
When Tanner Pearson returns, who stays, who goes?
A nice problem to have.
The Finn, after starting his season in the AHL, has one more goal than Josh Anderson.
After his goal, however, Boston had not said its last word.
First, Jake DeBrusk brought everyone back to square one.
The Bruins overload Guhle, DeBrusk ties the game. pic.twitter.com/ZFhN1s7WG2
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 21, 2024
And Danton Heinen gave the hosts the lead 56 seconds later.
After one period, it was 3-2 Bruins.
Matt Grzelcyk’s shot deflects off Danton Heinen and into the net.
Heinen’s sixth goal of the season gives Boston a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/PS3XKXsgu6
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
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In the second period, the barrage of goals continued unabated.
The Habs tied it on the power play thanks to Mike Matheson.
On the sequence, Sean Monahan picked up his third assist of the game.
Mike Matheson’s goal tonight (3-3) pic.twitter.com/FaFF3sqDbF
– HFTV (@HFTVSports) January 21, 2024
Boston then scored two goals in the space of 49 seconds.
Danton Heinen scored his second of the game.
And Charlie Coyle made Nick Suzuki look bad in his replay.
Danton Heinen scores his second goal of the night.
4-3 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/9g1jnyc7KC
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
Charlie Coyle beats Montembeault to a puck and tips it home.
5-3 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/zOCVVBG1jh
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
5-3 Boston.
If you thought the Montreal players were going to give up, you don’t know them very well.
Brendan Gallagher closed the gap to one goal.
Thanks bin 🤷
Bank’s open on Saturdays! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/S9okK8w00Q
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 21, 2024
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In the third period, the Bruins didn’t give up any more chances.
They scored three times and even chased Samuel Montembeault from the game.
A slick feed from Jake DeBrusk sets up Pavel Zacha’s 100th career goal.
8-4 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/7ONvet2Sf2
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
Different goalie, same result.
Heinen welcomed Cayden Primeau into the game with a hat trick.
Here come the hats for Danton Heinen. pic.twitter.com/G7WWoa8LKi
– Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) January 21, 2024
The home fans even chanted “Olé Olé Olé” to taunt their opponents.
Final score: 9-4
Montreal returns to action on Tuesday. The club will welcome the Senators to the Bell Centre.
Extended
– He’s playing better and better.
Juraj Slafkovsky is a puck retrieval beast. And he’s only 19 years old.
– HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) January 21, 2024
– Nick Suzuki can’t buy a goal.
Pastrnak with a good stick to deny a late Nick Suzuki goal: pic.twitter.com/ODnoiwgWzy
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 21, 2024
– Josh Anderson is not impressed.
Frederic and Anderson go at it.
Classic Bruins-Habs game tonight. pic.twitter.com/F16m1JMntx
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) January 21, 2024
– Ah bon.
Poitras and Forbort are the only #NHLBruins skaters to not register a point so far tonight.
– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) January 21, 2024