Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens trade punches at Bell Centre before overtime winner

The Boston Bruins moved to 37-23 with 8 overtime losses and 2 points, while the Montreal Canadiens moved to 37-20 with 10 overtime losses and 3 points after a 3-2 result at Bell Centre.

First period

The Bruins opened with 1 goal in the first period while the Canadiens matched 1, keeping the game level after 20.

Boston finished the night with 32 hits and 28 shots, and that physical, shot-volume start showed up early.

Montreal answered with 31 shots and 26 hits, keeping pace in a back-and-forth first period that ended even on the scoring log.

Second period

The Bruins produced their lone power-play goal as part of 1-for-4 with 7 power-play shots, while the Canadiens went 0-for-1 with 1 shot on their advantage.

Boston’s puck battle profile included 19 giveaways and 3 takeaways, and Montreal posted 11 giveaways with 6 takeaways as the second period added 1 goal for each team.

Jeremy Swayman finished with 28 saves on 31 shots against, and Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes stopped 26 of 28 to keep the game tight into the third.

Third period

The Bruins were held scoreless in the third period, and the Canadiens were also held scoreless, sending a 2-2 game beyond regulation.

Boston’s team faceoff line showed 25 faceoffs won on 53 draws for 47 percent, while Montreal won 28 on 53 for 53 percent to tilt a few extra possessions.

Boston Bruins post-match stats reflected 15 blocked shots against Montreal’s 12, which mattered as both teams protected the middle with the score unchanged.

Overtime

The Canadiens scored 1 overtime goal as the game-winning goal, while the Bruins finished overtime with 0 goals and 1 overtime shot.

Montreal’s overtime attack included 4 overtime shots, and the Bruins’ overtime ended on a single decisive finish that made the difference.

The Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens key moments centered on Boston’s power-play conversion and Montreal’s even-strength scoring volume that ultimately produced the winner.

Postgame notes

Pavel Zacha led the Bruins with 2 goals on 4 shots for a 50 percent shooting rate, supplying Boston’s entire scoring line.

David Pastrnak recorded 1 assist and 2 shots, and Charlie McAvoy added 1 assist with 3 shots as Boston generated 4 total assists on 2 goals.

The Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens tactical recap also pointed to Boston’s 12 missed shots versus Montreal’s 28, a gap that shaped how often each side extended possessions.

The Boston Bruins final whistle reaction arrived with Boston credited an overtime loss and Montreal credited a win as the Canadiens’ stars list included Cole Caufield, Jakub Dobes, and Josh Anderson.

The Bruins will be back at TD Garden at 7:00 PM EDT on 3/19/2026 against the Winnipeg Jets, with ESPN+ and NESN carrying the broadcast from Boston.

Catch that one, then share this article with other Bruins fans who track every rebound and matchup detail.