Jake DeBrusk forced overtime and Brad Marchand scored the winner as the Bruins improved to 3-0-0 without injured center Patrice Bergeron.
BOSTON -- This was the type of game that was expected, and maybe even feared, when the Bruins found out that Patrice Bergeron would miss at least two weeks with a fractured foot. They were bound to have trouble generating offense at even strength and on power plays without their top goal scorer overall (27), and in manpower advantages (nine), and might have trouble gaining puck possession without their top faceoff man (56.9 percent).
After outscoring two opponents by a 12-7 count to start the week, the B’s found a way to win a tighter game on Saturday at TD Garden, rallying to beat the Canadiens in overtime, 2-1, on Brad Marchand’s goal at 2:06 of overtime. They’re now 3-0-0 without their all-situations leader.
“It’s tough, losing a guy like that,” said Marchand, whose 25th goal of the season was his fifth game-winner, “but collectively, as a group, everyone’s been very good. Different lines have been stepping up, the defense has been playing great. Everyone’s chipping in.”
The B’s may soon need to ask others to chip in on their blue line. They lost rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy to a lower body injury only 37 seconds into the game.
McAvoy got hurt either entering or leaving a puck battle against Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher on the first shift of the game. Tripped by Gallager as he came out of the corner, McAvoy skated to the bench, hunched over, and retreated to the locker room.
“Hopefully, it’s not serious,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It didn’t look serious at the time, but I don’t really know. Monday, when we get back to the rink (the B’s have Sunday off) we’ll have a better idea where he’s at.”
For most of Saturday’s game, the Bruins were in danger of losing to a Canadiens team that was without its No. 1 goalie (Carey Price), No. 1 defenseman (Shea Weber) and captain (Max Paciorettey), all of whom were injured -- and the Habs had played on Friday night. Still, they led from the time Gallagher beat Anton Khudobin (27 saves) at 9:16 of the first period until only 2:45 remained in regulation, when Jake DeBrusk scored on the Bruins’ sixth power play of the night.
The B’s, who pounded Antti Niemi with 50 shots, completed their first series sweep over the Canadiens (4-0-0) since they went 4-for-4 against them in lockout-shortened (48 games) 1994-95.
The Bruins missed out on scoring chances for most of the night, including a 5-on-3 power play late in the second period that lasted for 40 seconds, and a pair of manpower advantages early in the third period. It wasn’t until Jonathan Drouin (whom Marchand victimized on his OT winner) took a delay of game penalty with 4:35 to play that the B’s cashed in on DeBrusk’s 13th of the season, a redirection of defenseman Nick Holden’s shot.
Around the boards: Cassidy said Khudobin got the start against the Habs so that Tuukka Rask, one of several Bruins playing through minor ailments, could take a couple of extra days off. Rask, who backed up Khudobin on Saturday, is now scheduled to start on Tuesday against the Red Wings. … Danton Heinen, a healthy scratch on Thursday for the first time since being promoted from AHL Providence in late October, returned to the lineup against the Habs. Tommy Wingels, who had played on the third line for the previous two games, was a healthy scratch. … The B’s also scratched defenseman Adam McQuaid and rookie blue-liner Matt Grzelcyk, who has a minor lower body injury. McQuaid has been scratched for three straight games, and four of the last five.