Coyle, McAvoy multi-goal game, Swayman strong, and more: 3 reasons why Boston Bruins won 6-3 over Montreal Canadiens

The Boston Bruins got a big 6-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon at TD Garden. With the win, the B’s extended their point streak versus the Habs to 16.

The Bruins got two goals apiece from Charlie McAvoy and Charlie Coyle, while David Pastrnak and Cole Koepke (EN) got the others for the Boston Bruins. Cole Caufield scored twice, with Emil Heineman adding another for the Canadiens.

So, here’s a closer look at the three main reasons why the Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday night.

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Three reasons why the Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens

#3 Coyle, McAvoy multi-goal games for the Bruins amid Canadiens’ first-period defensive meltdown

The Boston Bruins scored three times in 1:10 during the first period. The brief defensive meltdown by Montreal allowed the Bruins to build a 3-0 lead just after the midway mark of the period. McAvoy, Pastrnak and Coyle got in on the act, essentially grabbing the Canadiens by the throat.

It’s also worth pointing out that McAvoy added a shorthanded goal in the second period, resulting from another woeful Montreal defensive lapse. The broken play in the Boston zone allowed McAvoy to pick up a loose puck and score on a breakaway to give the Bruins a 4-0 lead less than 30 seconds into the middle frame.

#2 Swayman solid again

Boston Bruins starting goaltender Jeremy Swayman continued his string of strong starts. He allowed three goals on 29 shots on Sunday night, holding the fort down in the final minutes as Montreal pushed back.

With the score at 5-3 in the final minutes, the Bruins locked the game down. A good example of Swayman’s strong performance came on a Montreal power play with a little under 10 minutes left. After a faceoff win, the puck came back to the point where Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson let a bomb fly.

The shot hit the post, with a sprawling Swayman stopping the rebound. Swayman lay on the ice, covering the puck amid the battle in the crease. He kept the puck out, and the Bruins added an empty-netter to ice the win.

Sunday night’s performance marked the fourth start in a row that Swayman gave up less than three goals. Despite two of those games being losses, he continues to gradually build up his dominance after missing training camp earlier this season.

#1 The Bruins finally found the back of the net

The Bruins had struggled to find the back of the net before Sunday night’s performance. They lost a tough 2-1 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 29 where Swayman made 36 saves. His previous outing was a 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

However, on Sunday night, the Bruins blew the doors off the game, building a 5-1 lead at one point. While the Canadiens pushed back, it wasn’t enough to force overtime.

The Bruins will have a day to savor their win before taking on the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night at TD Garden.