The Montreal Canadiens delivered a powerful statement to close out 2025, dismantling their historic rivals, the Boston Bruins, with a 6-2 victory at TD Garden on December 23. The win snapped a painful nine-game losing streak for the Habs in Boston, marking their first triumph there since 2019.
A Festive Statement in Beantown
Montreal entered the holiday break in spectacular fashion, erasing years of frustration on Boston ice. The game was a physical affair from the opening puck drop, setting the tone for a memorable night. Josh Anderson and Tanner Jeannot dropped the gloves immediately after the opening face-off, followed by a heavyweight tilt between Arber Xhekaj and Nikita Zadorov later in the first period. In total, referees handed out 68 penalty minutes.
The Bruins took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission after goals from Marat Khusnutdinov and Alex Steeves, responding to Sammy Blais's first as a Canadien—a clever bank shot from below the goal line. The tide turned in the second period when rookie Ivan Demidov stole the puck from Zadorov and deked Jeremy Swayman on a breakaway to tie the game, a moment of individual brilliance that shifted the momentum.
Third Period Onslaught Seals the Win
The final frame belonged entirely to the Canadiens, who unleashed a four-goal barrage in just 5 minutes and 18 seconds. The explosion was triggered by Zachary Bolduc's rebound goal, which survived a lost Bruins coach's challenge for goaltender interference. Boston's penalty trouble then led to two consecutive 5-on-3 advantages for Montreal.
Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki capitalized on the two-man advantages, with Suzuki's goal coming off a spectacular mid-air bat. Juraj Slafkovsky capped the scoring with a blistering one-timer, making it 6-2. The four-goal third period was the first by the Canadiens against Boston since 2010.
Defence Drives the Offence
The offensive catalyst was the blue line, specifically the dynamic play of Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson. Each defenceman recorded three assists in the commanding win. Hutson, in particular, is finishing the calendar year on a remarkable heater. The reigning Calder Trophy winner now has 13 points, all assists, in his last eight games. No NHL defenceman has more assists in 2025 than Hutson, a list that includes stars like Cale Makar.
Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov each finished with a goal and an assist. In net, goaltender Jacob Fowler was stellar, making 26 saves to backstop the victory. The game also marked the return of Phillip Danault to the Habs lineup after a trade from Los Angeles, though he was held off the scoresheet in over 15 minutes of ice time.
The win keeps Montreal within two points of the top spot in the Atlantic Division, as the Detroit Red Wings also won on Tuesday. The Canadiens now enjoy a four-day holiday break before resuming their road trip on Sunday, December 28th, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
