BOSTON (Reuters) - The Montreal Canadiens scored two unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Thursday in the first meeting of the NHL season between the Original Six rivals.
With the victory, Montreal (10-5-1) extended their lead over Boston (8-4-1) to four points in the Northeast Division.
Montreal, who entered the game with the worst power-play in the league, converted twice with the man advantage against the league's best penalty killing team.
"Special teams were the difference in the hockey game," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said. "I think that our two power-play goals for us and our penalty killing did an outstanding job."
Brian Gionta was credited with the game-winning goal when he scored on a power-play 29 seconds into the final period and Scott Gomez gave Montreal some breathing room when he got his first goal in 14 games about 10 minutes later.
Montreal's P.K. Subban netted his first regular season goal on a first-period power-play but Boston answered when Zdeno Chara scored with the man advantage with less than five minutes to play in the opening period.
Carey Price continued his stellar play in goal for Montreal turning aside 34 shots for his ninth win of the season. He has allowed just six goals in his last four games.
"He's doing what he's been doing all year. Keeping us in games, giving us a chance," Gionta said of Price. "You know, it's a tie game going into the third; we've got a power-play so he's giving us that chance." (Reporting by Mike Mouat in Windsor, Ontario; Editing by John O'Brien)
