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Bruins outlast Canadiens in Northeast tussle

Feb 10, 2011 - 5:39 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Nathan Horton posted a goal and four assists as Boston exploded for an 8-6 victory over Montreal in a spirited, high-scoring contest at TD Garden.

Milan Lucic and Michael Ryder both tallied twice for the Bruins, who have won four of five and extended their lead over Montreal in the Northeast Division to four points (69-65).

Dennis Seidenberg, Adam McQuaid and Brad Marchand also lit the lamp, as Tim Thomas -- the NHL leader in goals-against average -- allowed six goals on 33 shots but still earned the win.

"Play was pretty open at both ends there," said Thomas. "It was old-time hockey out there tonight and it was a fun game to play in."

Max Pacioretty scored twice while Brian Gionta, P.K. Subban and David Desharnais had a goal and assist each for the Canadiens, who have lost two in a row after winning three straight.

"It's always passionate and always emotional when we play each other," said Gionta. "Obviously today was a big game cause it was important points on the line. We just didn't do enough to win."

In defeat, Carey Price allowed eight goals for the first time in his career on 34 shots.

Pacioretty beat Thomas with a high wrister on a power play to bring Montreal within 6-5 at 7:06 of the third period.

On the ensuing Boston advantage, a score was wiped out due to contact with Price, but Ryder ended up giving the home team a 7-5 edge anyway at the tail end of the 5-on-4 on a shot inside the right post with 9:59 to play.

A sizzling shot from the right circle by Horton with 5:06 left put the B's up 8-5, then after some late-game tussling between the clubs, Pacioretty notched a 5-on-3 power-play score.

Boston opened the scoring with 6:44 to play in the first period, when Patrice Bergeron slid a lead pass to Marchand on the left wing, and he moved to the slot and beat Price with a backhand.

Only 12 seconds later, Price stopped Horton's chance from the right wing, but the rebound popped in the air and settled on Seidenberg's stick for a 2-0 lead.

Gionta brought the Habs within 2-1 just 25 seconds into the second period, and Subban's power-play blast tied the game 8 1/2 minutes in.

The Bruins needed just 1:18 to regain the lead on a McQuaid wrister from between the circles, but the Habs equalized thanks to Yannick Weber's deflected drive 73 seconds later.

It was 4-3 for the home team when Wheeler sent a back pass to Ryder for a successful forehander in close at 11:32, then Lucic converted a Horton rebound to make it a two-goal margin 59 seconds after.

On the next shift, Marchand drilled Canadiens defenseman James Wisniewski with a hard but clean check into the boards behind Price. All 10 players on the ice squared off in the Montreal end, including Price and Thomas, who had a brief bout.

Montreal was given a power play once everything was sorted, and got back within a goal when Desharnais' shot from the goal line ticked off a Boston stick and rolled past Thomas.

David Krejci then dished to Lucic for a short-handed wrister to make it 6-4 with 5:11 left before intermission.

Game Notes

Boston snapped a four-game home losing streak to Montreal...Gionta's tally was his 200th career goal...The Bruins hadn't scored as many goals at home against their rivals since an 8-6 win at Boston Garden on December 5, 1985...Thomas entered the game with a 1.80 GAA, while Price ranked ninth at 2.32...The game featured 45 penalties for 177 minutes, with Boston accounting for 26 infractions and 97 minutes...Thomas became the first Bruins goaltender to be given a fighting major since Byron Dafoe in 2002...Krejci posted three assists for Boston...Wisniewski and Tomas Plekanec earned two helpers each for Montreal.