Marchand Scores In OT, McAvoy Leaves With Injury In Bruins’ 2-1 Win Over Canadiens
Brad Marchand netted the game-winner and Charlie MCavoy suffered a lower-body injury as the Bruins beat the Canadians 2-1.
Brad Marchand shoots for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens during Game 5 of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)The Bruins battled back to beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime on Saturday as Brad Marchand netted the game-winner. The B's have now won three in a row with two OT victories in their last three.
Despite the win, the biggest concern lies with Charlie McAvoy. The rookie defenseman left the game early in the first period with a lower-body injury, appearing to injure his leg just as the Habs' Brendan Gallagher tripped him. Head coach Bruce Cassidy had no update on McAvoy's status after the game, but didn't believe the injury to look serious.
Canadiens goalie Antti Niemi very nearly stole the game for his team, making a career-high 48 saves. But the Bruins generated quality opportunities for much of the game and finally broke through near the end of regulation.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins shoots the puck in aagainst the New York Islanders during the third period at the Barclays Center on January 18, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Bruins defeated the Islanders 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Highlights
Jake DeBrusk tied the game with just 2:45 left in regulation. The rookie winger found a lane to the front of the net as the Habs' Byron Froese went out to block the pass from Torey Krug.
The puck still found its way to Nick Holden, who fed the slap-pass to DeBrusk for the deflection and his 13th goal of the season to make it 1-1.
As he practically skated circles around the Canadiens in 3-on-3 OT, Marchand finished off a dominant shift as he circled around the net and found his way to the slot area, where he fired a wrister past Niemi to give the Bruins the extra point.
Before the B's beat Niemi in OT, the goalie made a big stop against Rick Nash on a point-blank chance with under two minutes left.
Anton Khudobin made 27 saves to improve to 14-4-4 on the season. And he made some big saves of his own, especially against Gallagher on a rush in the final minute of the game.
The Bruins (40-15-8) get two days off before facing the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at TD Garden.
