Bruins Drop 10th Straight to Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Bruins 4-2 to move back into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Alex Kovalev led Montreal with two goals and an assist, and Carey Price made 34 saves.

It's Montreal's 10th win in a row over Boston, including all seven meetings this season. It tied a franchise record for the most consecutive wins against Boston going back to the 1944-45 season.

Kovalev gave Montreal a 2-0 lead with a pair in the second period, outmaneuvering Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. Chara returned to the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

Mark Stuart scored for Boston in the second period, and Dennis Wideman got another goal with three minute left to play.

The seventh-place Bruins are clinging to a playoff position but are only two points ahead of Buffalo. Both teams have eight games remaining.