Déjà vu struck the Bruins again, as they let another lead slip away, falling to Montreal in a heartbreaker. Cole Caufield's clutch goal with just 22 seconds left in overtime sealed a 3-2 victory for the Canadiens in this intense Atlantic Division clash.
Pavel Zacha was the star for the Bruins, netting both of their goals, while Jeremy Swayman stood tall with 28 saves, despite the tough loss.
The Bruins twice held the lead, at 1-0 and 2-1, but the Habs found answers both times, leveling the score about eight minutes after each Bruins goal. The third period remained scoreless, setting the stage for a thrilling overtime where Montreal ultimately prevailed.
Zacha got things rolling early with a power play goal just two minutes into the game, putting the Bruins up 1-0. But the Canadiens quickly responded, as Josh Anderson redirected a Lane Hutson shot to even things up.
As the game stretched into overtime, both teams exchanged chances, but it was Caufield who found the back of the net, marking his 40th goal of the season-a milestone moment for the young star.
While the Bruins can take solace in earning four out of six possible points on this road trip, the back-to-back overtime losses sting, especially after a similar unraveling against New Jersey.
The power play, a crucial aspect of the Bruins' game, fell short, converting just once in four opportunities. With a rare chance to capitalize on a double minor early on, they only managed to score on the first half, leaving room for improvement.
In the chaotic 3-on-3 overtime, leaving Caufield unchecked in front of the net proved costly. Zacha almost had a storybook ending with a breakaway chance in OT, but it wasn’t to be.
Despite the loss, Swayman delivered a solid performance, and it’s hard to pin any of the goals on him. Meanwhile, the wild card race is heating up. Columbus's decisive win over Carolina tightened the standings, with the Bruins holding the first wild card spot thanks to a regulation wins tiebreaker over Detroit.
Looking ahead, the Bruins have a day to regroup before facing the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden on Thursday. A crucial showdown with the Red Wings in Detroit looms on Saturday, promising more high-stakes action.