MONTREAL (AP) — Michael Ryder’s power-play goal 57 seconds into the second period lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Northeast Division.
Alex Galchenyuk also scored and Carey Price made 26 saves for the Canadiens (25-8-5), who won three of four against the Bruins this season. The Canadiens lead the division by three points, with Boston holding a game in hand.
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Daniel Paille scored for Boston (24-9-4), which had a three-game winning streak snapped.
The Canadiens were down one defenseman from the midway point of the first period when Alexei Emelin appeared to sustain a left knee injury in a thunderous collision while taking a run at big Bruins forward Milan Lucic.
Montreal had a one-goal lead at the time. Galchenyk, who scored for a second game in a row, slipped the puck into traffic in the crease, and Matt Batkowski put it into his own net at 6:49.
The teams exchanged goals in the second.
A cross-checking penalty by Lucic put Montreal on the power play to start the period. Ryder deflected P.K. Subban’s wrist shot into the top corner only 57 seconds in. It was Ryder’s sixth goal in six games.
The game featured good chances at both ends and some big hits and big saves from Price and Tuukka Rask, but none of the controversial incidents that often mark games between these rivals.
Montreal held a 29-27 edge in shots.
Paille won a faceoff against David Desharnais in the Montreal zone, and Johnny Boychuk’s shot went in off his back at 7:10.
The Bruins had a chance during a power play in the final minute, and pulled Rask for an extra skater, but still couldn’t get a shot on goal.
NOTES: Canadiens C Tomas Plekanec returned after missing one game due to a suspected groin injury, bumping Michael Blundin from the lineup. Gabriel Dumont, Tomas Kaberle and Yannick Weber were scratched for Montreal. … Newly acquired D Wade Redden didn’t play and has yet to make his Bruins debut. Jordan Caron and Aaron Johnson were healthy scratches. … Boston’s Patrice Bergeron, who had seven points in three games against Montreal, missed a second game because of a concussion.
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