BOSTON (AP) — Trent Frederic scored two goals, Brad Marchand collected his 500th career assist and the Boston Bruins cruised past longtime rivals the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 on Saturday night.
Facing the Canadiens for the second time in eight days, Boston got some payback for a 3-2 overtime loss in Montreal last Saturday.
Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Bruins (13-1-2), who have lost just once in regulation this season.
Boston posted NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) last season.
On a night when members of the 1970 and ’72 Stanley Cup-winning teams — led by Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk — got to finally raise a banner to the rafters, the Bruins jumped out fast in the 759th regular-season meeting between the Original Six clubs.
Montreal lost its fourth straight. Juraj Slafkovsky and Johnathan Kovacevic scored for the Canadiens.
The Bruins are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games against Montreal.
With Boston skating on a two-man, power-play advantage, McAvoy one-timed Marchand’s pass into the top left corner of the net from the right circle 7:11 into the opening period.
Marchand picked up his milestone assist on the goal.
Frederic’s first goal came with 40 seconds left in the opening period when he redirected Brandon Carlo’s shot past goalie Jake Allen.
Zacha’s wrister from the slot deflected off the stick of a Canadiens’ player in front and trickled past Allen’s right skate, making it 3-0 at 5:18 of the second period.
Frederic’s second goal came on a wrister with 4:30 left in the second, giving Boston a 4-1 edge.
After they went up 5-1 in the third, the TD Garden fans started chanting and mocking the Canadiens with “Ole! Ole!” — a chant used when they play well in Montreal.
Bruins star David Pastrnak missed a good amount of the opening period but returned to the bench late in the period.
The Bruins said Milan Lucic is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team after he was involved in an undisclosed incident Friday night.
In a statement released Saturday morning, the team didn’t provide any details about the incident other than to say the organization is aware of the situation and “takes these matters very seriously.” The team also said it would work with Lucic’s family to provide any support and assistance needed.
Boston Police said it could neither confirm nor deny arresting Lucic early Saturday morning.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: At the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, the second of a five-game trip.
Bruins: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, their first of five straight away from TD Garden.
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