Speedy Canadiens Use Hot Start To Blow Past Bruins, 5-2

BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins (13-5-1) came ready to celebrate the team's "Homecoming" theme in front of a sellout crowd inside TD Garden, but the Montreal Canadiens (12-3-4) romped their way to a dominant 5-2 victory.

The Canadiens led 5-0 at one point in the second period, with chants of "Ole, Ole, Ole" ringing around TD Garden.

Bruins' Head Coach Marco Sturm pulled Jeremy Swayman after it became 4-0 on a Cole Caufield breakaway.

All things considered, it started about as ugly as it could've been for the Bruins tonight inside TD Garden.

The finish was ok, but it was too little, too late for the Bruins.

They fall from first in the Atlantic Division to third, with the Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning both leapfrogging the Bruins after Thursday's games. 

The Bruins did show a good amount of fight after they fell behind 5-0. Casey Mittelstadt posted two straight goals to cut it to 5-2 with 19:07 to go in the third period, giving the Bruins life.

After all, the Canadiens blew a 4-0 lead at home less than a week ago to the Winnipeg Jets.

However, Montreal's starting goaltender Jacob Fowler simply was too good early on Thursday night. Fowler made big saves early, allowing the Canadiens to push things out of hand before it was all said and done.

He made 30 saves in the win for Montreal.

Swayman, who was pulled before the halfway mark of the second period, allowed four goals on 17 shots.

Michael DiPietro allowed 1 goal and made 12 saves in relief.

The Bruins next play on Saturday at home against Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov and the Minnesota Wild.