With nod to Patriots, Montreal tops Bruins 5-1 in Winter Classic at home of Super Bowl champs

Flame towers ignite as the Montreal Canadiens, left, and Boston Bruins, right, file towards the ice prior to the NHL Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (The Associated Press)

The Canadian and American flags are presented during the national anthems prior the NHL Winter Classic hockey game between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (The Associated Press)

Montreal Canadiens center David Desharnais (51) pokes the puck past Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) for a goal during the first period of the NHL Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. At center is Bruins defenseman Joe Morrow (45). (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) (The Associated Press)

Boston native Mike Condon stopped 27 shots to lead the Montreal Canadiens to a 5-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Friday in the Winter Classic at the home of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

Paul Byron scored twice, and Brendan Gallagher returned from two broken fingers and had a goal and an assist for Montreal. David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty also scored for the Canadiens.

Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots for the Bruins, and Matt Beleskey scored in the third period to avert the first shutout in Winter Classic history. The four-goal win was the largest for the event since it began in 2008.

Both goalies paid tribute to the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady on their masks, and coach Claude Julien worked the Bruins bench in a hoodie straight from the wardrobe of his NFL counterpart, Bill Belichick.

But the Bruins fell to 0-1 in a building where the Patriots have lost only one meaningful game in three years.