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December 6, 2007

Higgins leads Canadiens past Bruins

BOSTON (AP) - Chris Higgins had a goal and two assists to help the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 on Thursday night.

Montreal snapped a three-game losing streak with its seventh straight victory over Boston. The Canadiens have outscored the Bruins 28-11 during the streak.

Higgins, Kyle Chipchura and Tomas Plekanec scored goals on the first six shots of the game against goalie prospect Tuuka Rask, forced into the starting role with Tim Thomas sidelined by an apparent groin injury.

Mathieu Dandenault added a third-period goal for Montreal, and rookie Carey Price made 24 saves to improve to 7-4-1.

Phil Kessel and P.J. Axelsson scored for Boston, coming off a six-game road trip that ended Wednesday night with an overtime loss in New Jersey.

Kessel and Axelsson connected in the second period as Boston battled back while outshooting Montreal 13-3. Kessel scored at 6:10 after Dennis Wideman's slap shot deflected off Kessel's leg. Axelsson cut Montreal's lead to 3-2, tapping Marc Savard's cross-crease pass past goalie Carey Price 2:31 later.

Dandenault added an insurance goal with 6:45 remaining in the third.

Higgins opened the scoring off rebound 3:03 into the game. It was his fourth goal in the last four games and snapped Montreal's 0-for-15 drought on the power play.

Notes: Boston acquired goalie Alex Auld from Phoenix on Thursday in exchange for a minor league player and a draft pick. Auld replaces Thomas, hurt Wednesday night in New Jersey. ... Plekanec leads Montreal with six points this season against Boston. ... Montreal's Ryan O'Byrne had two assists in his first NHL game. ... Montreal is 4-0 against Boston, and 10-10-4 against the rest of the NHL.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:56 PM to Bruins | Permalink

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