Canadiens Spoil Boston's Garden Night 5-2 Behind Fowler
Boston threw more pucks at the net and still went home beaten. The Canadiens won 5-2 at the Garden because when the shots were dangerous, Montreal finished theirs and Jacob Fowler stopped most of Boston's.
The Bruins led in raw volume, with 64 shot attempts to Montreal's 48 and 32 shots on goal to 30. But volume hid the real story. By expected goals (how many goals each team's chances were worth), the night was nearly even: 3.32 for Montreal, 3.18 for Boston. Montreal also blocked 23 shots to Boston's 6, which is a big reason so many Bruins attempts never reached the net.
Fowler made 30 saves on 32 shots, including 11 of 13 from the most dangerous areas. He was worth about 1.18 goals more than an average goalie on those chances, by goals saved above expected. At the other end, Jeremy Swayman allowed 4 goals on 17 shots before Michael DiPietro came in and stopped 12 of 13.
Montreal spread the scoring around, with goals from Jake Evans, Josh Anderson, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach and Phillip Danault. Evans and Anderson, who skated together with Chris Kreider, added an assist each. For Boston, Casey Mittelstadt scored both goals, and Elias Lindholm, playing alongside him, set up both.
The bounces leaned Montreal's way in Boston's net, but this was no smash-and-grab. The Canadiens matched Boston's chances and got the better goaltending. The win moves Montreal to 11-3-4 and is the club's sixth road win, against a Boston team that came in 8-1-0 at home.
