By Canadian Press

Pastrnak seals Bruins’ comeback in 5-4 win over Canadiens in regular-season finale

Apr 13, 2023 | 8:27 PM

MONTREAL — David Pastrnak scored the winning goal with nine minutes remaining and the Boston Bruins ended their historic regular season with a 5-4 comeback win over rival Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. 

Dmitry Orlov, with a goal and an assist, Trent Frederic, Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle also scored for Boston (65-12-5).

Jeremy Swayman made 30 saves. 

The Bruins closed their Presidents Trophy-winning season by establishing all-time records for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season.

Lucas Condotta scored in his NHL debut, while Michael Pezzetta, with one goal and one assist, Nick Suzuki and Justin Barron added the others for Montreal (31-45-6).

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Starting on back-to-back nights, Sam Montembeault made 16 saves. 

Condotta put Montreal in front early when he zoomed into the crease and batted the puck in 3:27 into the first period. Joel Teasdale was later credited with an assist, giving him his first NHL point.

Boston levelled the game 9:19 into the frame when Frederic redirected Connor Clifton’s shot from the right faceoff circle.

DeBrusk gave the Bruins their first lead of the night at 14:40 when he shocked Montembeault, who wasn’t ready to make the save, with a shot from a tight angle.

Joel Edmundson intercepted a clearance along the boards and took a shot from the point that Suzuki tipped in 7:16 into the second period. He tied Cole Caufield’s team-high mark of 26 goals on the season.

Montreal regained its lead just over a minute later when Rem Pitlick outraced Swayman for the puck and sent a pass to Pezzetta, who tapped in his seventh of the campaign into the empty net. 

Orlov sniped the puck just under the crossbar to knot the game at 3-3 for Boston at 13:58 of the middle frame.

Barron fired a loose puck from the slot for a short-handed goal to give the Habs their third lead of the night 1:09 into the third period.

Coyle knotted the contest for Boston, disregarding Chris Wideman’s marking and beating Montembeault with a wrister at 8:48.

Just over two minutes later, Orlov connected with Pastrnak on a cross-crease pass and Pastrnak netted his 61st of the season and the winner.

INJURY REPORT

Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson left the game early in the second period after getting tangled up with Coyle in the neutral zone and falling onto the ice. The team announced during the second period that Matheson had suffered a lower-body injury and would not return.

SAVARD HONOURED

Defenceman David Savard received the Jacques Beauchamp trophy, awarded by Montreal sports journalists to the Canadien who played a dominant role without receiving a particular honour. 

“It shows how much I want to give to the team and it’s flattering to receive this,” Savard said. “It shows that people have witnessed how much I give for the team without earning a star or stuff like that. I don’t really care for that, the success of the team is what’s important to me.” 

UP NEXT 

Canadiens: End of season. 

Bruins: Stanley Cup playoffs first round against the Florida Panthers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023

Tristan D’Amours, The Canadian Press