Canadiens Chase Swayman From Game Midway Through Second Period

BOSTON -- The Montreal Canadiens rolled into Boston and blew away the Boston Bruins inside TD Garden on Thursday night.

The Bruins fell behind 4-0 before the halfway mark of the second period, with the shots reading 17-14 Montreal.

The fourth goal came via a Cole Caufield breakaway after a David Pastrnak turnover.

Caufield rifled it top cheddar over Jeremy Swayman's blocker.

Bruins' Head Coach Marco Sturm pulled Swayman, ending his night early for the first time in the 2026-27 season.

It'd be hard to pin really anything on Swayman tonight. The Canadiens' speed killed Boston defensively.

Boston had the previous three days off, and perhaps it played a factor in the team's slow start.

The Canadiens raced out to 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game, behind a Kirby Dach wraparound and a Josh Anderson rebound.

The Bruins then pushed hard at the end of the first and early in the second, but Canadiens' starting goaltender Jacob Fowler stayed equal to the task.

The same remained true at the start of the second period, when Fowler denied chances from Boston's buzzing bottom six.

After an extended zone stay for Boston, the Canadiens executed a perfect jailbreak.

Jake Evans, fresh off the bench from a chance, was sprung by Anderson for a breakaway, where he beat Swayman five-hole.

That took the life out of Boston, leading to Pastrnak's turnover and Sturm's pulling of Swayman.

The Canadiens lead the Bruins 5-1 late in the second period.