Bruins Storm Back in Third to Stun Canadiens, Close Gap in Atlantic
Saturday night at TD Garden had all the makings of a statement game for the Boston Bruins - and by the final horn, they made it loud and clear. Down a goal entering the third and still searching for their first come-from-behind win in the final frame this season, the Bruins flipped the script on their longtime rivals, rallying for a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Let’s set the scene: Boston came in with a chance to tighten the race in the Atlantic Division and create some breathing room in the wild-card chase. But through two periods, it looked like Montreal was going to spoil the party - again.
Caufield Catches Fire Early
Cole Caufield was the story early on. The Canadiens’ young sniper lit the lamp three times, showcasing the kind of elite shot that makes goalies flinch and fans lean forward.
Two of those goals were pure highlight-reel material - clean snipes that left little doubt. His hat trick had Montreal up 3-2 after 40 minutes, and the Bruins were reeling.
To make matters worse, Boston saw defenseman Nikita Zadorov head to the locker room late in the second period with what looked like an injury. At that point, the Bruins were staring down a tough road: trailing on the scoreboard, potentially down a top blueliner, and facing a team that had buried them with four third-period goals in their last meeting just a month ago.
Zadorov Returns, Bruins Respond
But hockey has a funny way of flipping momentum in a blink. Zadorov returned to start the third - a surprising and welcome sight - and his presence seemed to spark something.
Boston found its legs. The energy shifted.
And when the clock ticked under five minutes to play, the Bruins struck.
Fraser Minten, who had been buzzing all night, tried to thread a pass to Morgan Geekie in the offensive zone. The puck deflected off a skate and bounced right back to Minten, who didn’t hesitate.
He cut into the slot and buried a backhander past Sam Montembeault to tie the game at 3-3. It was a gritty, opportunistic goal - the kind that comes from staying engaged and not giving up on the play.
Then came the dagger.
Seven Seconds Later, Geekie Hits a Milestone
Off the ensuing face-off, Tanner Jeannot drew a penalty, and the Bruins wasted no time. Just seven seconds into the power play, Charlie McAvoy worked the puck over to Geekie, whose quick-release shot deflected off a Montreal defender and into the net.
It was Geekie’s 100th career goal - though it took a moment for anyone to realize it. The puck got lodged in the netting, and for a few seconds, it seemed like no one but Geekie knew it had gone in.
After a quick review, the goal was confirmed, and the Bruins had their first lead of the night.
A Win They Needed - And Earned
This wasn’t just a win. It was a response.
A month ago, the Canadiens embarrassed Boston in the third period on this same ice. On Saturday, the Bruins returned the favor - with interest.
For a team that hadn’t yet mounted a third-period comeback this season, this one mattered. It showed resilience, poise, and just enough opportunism to turn a tough night into a critical two points. And with the win, Boston pulled within a single point of Montreal in the standings - a significant shift in what’s shaping up to be a tight divisional race.
The Bruins now have back-to-back wins and a little momentum as they head into the heart of the season. And if Saturday night was any indication, this team still knows how to dig deep when it counts.