BOSTON — David Backes scored the deciding goal in his first game in nearly a month, David Pastrnak added his league-leading 25th goal, and the Boston Bruins won their seventh straight game, beating the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 Sunday night.
Backes’ first goal of the season came off a feed from David Krejci through the right circle, with 9:31 remaining in the third period.
Backes was in the lineup for the first time since being injured during a scary collision with Ottawa’s Scott Sabourin on Nov. 2.
Jake DeBrusk added his sixth goal of the year on a give-and-go with Charlie Coyle two minutes later.
Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins.
Boston extended its point streak to 11 games (8-0-3) and entered the third month of the season as the only team without a home regulation loss (11-0-4).
Joel Amir scored, and Carey Price had 31 saves for Montreal. The Canadiens extended their season-high losing streak to eight (0-5-3).
Montreal had allowed 24 goals in four prior games, including a season-worst 8-1 loss to Boston at home Tuesday that featured a hat trick by Pastrnak.
Price gave up five goals on 11 shots in Tuesday’s loss to the Bruins and had surrendered 16 total over his last three games.
The Canadiens got off to a fast start this time after giving up three first-period goals in Tuesday’s matchup.
Armia’s backhand shot from the right circle deflected off Charlie McAvoy’s skate and into the net for his 10th goal of the year 1:58 into the game.
Play was stopped with 2:47 left in the second as a scuffle broke out involving all 10 position players on the ice after Shea Weber interfered with Pastrnak.
Boston nearly tied it at the end of the ensuing power play when Matt Grzelcyk poked his own rebound straight across the crease behind Price.
Pastrnak evened the score at 6:16 of the third after skating into the right circle and firing a one-time shot past Price high to the stick side.
Backes’ goal came with nine seconds left on a Bruins’ power play after Montreal’s Nick Cousins was whistled for holding Boston’s Torey Krug.
The Canadiens beat the Bruins 5-4 in their first meeting on Nov. 5 in Montreal.
NOTES
Bruins LW Brad Marchand played despite being a game-time decision after playing through flu-like symptoms on Friday. … Boston C Patrice Bergeron (lower body) was out for the sixth time in eight games. Bergeron skated before Sunday’s practice and is still day-to-day. … Canadiens D Victor Mete did not travel and was to be re-evaluated Sunday after suffering a lower-body injury Saturday against Philadelphia. … Montreal LW Jonathan Drouin (torn tendon in left wrist) has missed eight games following his surgery but has been medically cleared to ride a stationary bike. His return date, originally thought to be eight weeks, is still uncertain. RW Paul Byron (knee) also missed his eighth straight. … Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur underwent surgery to remove ganglions and a lobe on his lung on Nov. 28 in Montreal, the team announced Sunday. LaFluer is expected to return home soon to continue his recovery.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Host New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Bruins: Host Carolina on Tuesday night.
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Gethin Coolbaugh, The Associated Press