National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Boston 5, Montreal 3
When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, May 3, 2014
Where: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Referees: Dave Jackson, Dan O'Rourke
Linesmen: Scott Cherrey, Brad Kovachik
Attendance: 17565

Bruins 5, Canadiens 3: Reilly Smith scored with 3:32 remaining in the third period as host Boston overcame a late two-goal deficit to even its Eastern Conference second-round series with Montreal at one game apiece.

Patrice Bergeron collected a goal and an assist while Daniel Paille, Milan Lucic and defenseman Dougie Hamilton also tallied for the Bruins, who scored four times in under an eight-minute stretch in the third. Boston, which travels to the Bell Centre for Game 3 on Tuesday, split its two regular-season meetings in Montreal - dropping a 2-1 decision on Dec. 5 before breezing to a 4-1 triumph on March 12.

Thomas Vanek netted a pair of power-play goals and blue-liner Mike Weaver also tallied for the Canadiens, who have scored four times with the man advantage in the series. Defenseman P.K. Subban notched a pair of assists in his team's first setback of the postseason.

After Vanek's offensive explosion gave Montreal a 3-1 lead, Hamilton's wrist shot from the point midway into the third halved the deficit before Bergeron's bid from along the right-wing boards fluttered past Carey Price (30 saves) with 5:43 left. Smith deposited defenseman Torey Krug's circle-to-circle pass into the net to give Boston a 4-3 lead before Lucic sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 66 seconds to play.

With Bruins defenseman Andrej Meszaros serving a roughing penalty, Subban wired a pass from the left faceoff circle that deflected off Vanek's stick in front and past Vezina Trophy finalist Tuukka Rask (25 saves) with 1:51 remaining in the second period to give the Canadiens a 2-1 edge. The duo teamed up again as Subban's blast from the point was chipped home by Vanek at 6:30 of the third.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Subban netted a pair of power-play goals in Montreal's 4-3 double-overtime victory on Thursday. The Canadiens are 4-for-9 with the man advantage in the series. ... Lucic nearly gave his team a 2-1 lead late in the second period, but officials reviewed the play and deemed that the burly star batted the puck into the net with his glove. ... Meszaros replaced fellow D Matt Bartkowski in the lineup and promptly notched an assist on Paille's first-period tally before committing the costly roughing penalty. Meszaros was making his first postseason appearance since Game 2 of the first-round series versus Detroit. Bartkowski was whistled for holding RW Dale Weise in double overtime of Game 1, leading to Subban's winning tally.
Top Game Performances
 
Montreal   Boston
Thomas Vanek 2 Points Patrice Bergeron 2
Thomas Vanek 2 Goals Patrice Bergeron 1
P.K Subban 2 Assists Brad Marchand 2
Thomas Vanek 2 Power Play Goals N/A
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Carey Price .882 Save Percentage Tuukka Rask .893
Carey Price 30 Saves Tuukka Rask 25
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Montreal 28 3 2-6 3-3 12 31
Boston 35 5 0-3 4-6 18 37
Upcoming Games
  • Boston will play their next game on the road against Montreal. The Bruins have a W/L % of .618 after a win and .741 after a loss.
  • Montreal will play their next game at home against Boston. The Canadiens have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .639 after a loss.