Boston: Alex Galchenyuk scored the only shootout goal as the Montreal Canadiens ended the Boston Bruins’ 12-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory on Monday.
The Bruins fell one game short of their longest winning streak since 1970-71 and two shy of the club record set in 1929-30. But their one point from the shootout defeat moved them ahead of Western Conference-leading St Louis for the most in the NHL with 104.
Boston tied the game at 1-1 with just two seconds left on their sixth power play of the game. Dougie Hamilton’s slap shot from the centre of the blue line deflected off Patrice Bergeron and past netminder Peter Budaj with 5:26 left in the third period. It was Bergeron’s 23rd goal of the season.
Montreal grabbed the lead on Alexei Emelin’s third goal of the season at 6:39 of the first. Emelin’s shot from the blue line deflected off Bruins forward Chris Kelly about 30 feet from the net and rose over the glove of goalie Tuukka Rask.
The win moved Montreal ahead of Tampa Bay and into third place in the Eastern Conference.
San Jose, meanwhile, clinched a play-off spot by getting a point in a shootout loss to Calgary. Mike Cammalleri moved in from the right wing and went short side on Alex Stalock, setting off a roar from the Saddledome crowd.
Karri Ramo, who finished with 33 saves, stopped Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski and James Sheppard for the win.
Joe Colborne scored in regulation for Calgary, who have won 10 of their past 13 on home ice.
Sheppard scored in regulation for San Jose, whose four-game road winning streak came to an end.
San Jose increased their lead at the top of the Pacific Division to two points over Anaheim. The Ducks have two games in hand.
