Caufield’s 40th of season the winner as Canadiens top Bruins 3-2 in overtime

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Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) scores on Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during overtime NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) celebrates his goal over the Boston Bruins with teammate Lane Hutson (48) during overtime NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) — Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) scores on Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during overtime NHL hockey action in Montreal on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

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10:09 PM on Tuesday, March 17

The Associated Press

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored 4:38 into overtime as the Montreal Canadiens edged the Boston Bruins 3-2 in a rivalry matchup Tuesday night.

Caufield tapped a pass from Nick Suzuki into the back of the net for his 40th of the season, becoming the first Canadien to reach the mark since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94.

Suzuki and Josh Anderson also scored while Jakub Dobes made 26 saves for Montreal, which snapped a two-game losing skid.

Brendan Gallagher picked up an assist in his 900th NHL game, all for Montreal.

Pavel Zacha had both goals for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 28 shots.

The Canadiens sat third in the Atlantic Division and one point ahead of the Bruins — with one game in hand — heading into Tuesday’s games.

Zacha opened the scoring on the power play 2:22 into the first period when he shoveled home a backhand after Alexandre Carrier’s double-minor for high-sticking put the Canadiens on a four-minute penalty kill.

Suzuki replied at 10:30, casually deking to his backhand following a net-front pass from Juraj Slafkovsky to beat Swayman and tie the game.

Five minutes into the second period, Zacha tipped Viktor Arvidsson’s pass for his second of the night after defensive-zone confusion between Montreal’s Lane Hutson and Oliver Kapanen left the Bruins center all alone in front of the net. Anderson evened the score again at 13:15 in the second with a deflection on Hutson’s point shot.

Bruins star winger David Pastrnak extended his point streak against Montreal to 14 games, tying Bobby Orr for the longest by a Bruins player against the Canadiens.

Up next

Bruins: Host Winnipeg on Thursday.

Canadiens: Visit Detroit on Thursday.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl