BOSTON (AP) 鈥� Charlie McAvoy scored two goals 鈥� one coming when Boston scored three times in 70 seconds during the opening period 鈥� and the Bruins celebrated the 100th anniversary of their first NHL game with a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
Charlie Coyle also had two goals 鈥� one during the outburst 鈥� for the Bruins, who posted a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Maroons in their initial NHL game on Dec. 1, 1924, at the then-Boston Arena.
Cole Caufield scored twice for Montreal, which has lost four of five.
McAvoy scored on a wraparound at 11:45. David Pastrnak one-timed a shot from the right circle 55 seconds later. Coyle scored his first on a backhander 15 seconds later.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was in attendance as the Bruins closed a year of celebrating different eras during their first 100 years.
鈥淚t was a remarkable year, but this is a remarkable franchise 鈥� 100 years old,鈥� he said between the opening two periods.
Takeaways
Canadiens: For large stretches, they certainly looked like one of the NHL鈥檚 worst teams. They looked better in the third period.
Bruins: They were energized at the start, winning for the fourth time in six games since interim coach Joe Sacco took over for fired Jim Montgomery.
Key moment
With Hall of Famers Bobby Orr, Willie O鈥橰ee, Ray Bourque and Johnny Bucyk leading a group of past and current players during an on-ice, pre-game ceremony, Boston symbolically 鈥渃losed the vault鈥� on the previous 100 years.
鈥淎 100 years! I鈥檓 89,鈥� O鈥橰ee said before the game. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so proud to be a part of the Bruins鈥� family.鈥�
Bourque said: 鈥淭his being the final chapter, closing the book on 100 years, it鈥檚 just amazing the history and everything that鈥檚 happened in a hundred years for the Boston Bruins.鈥�
Key stat
Three goals in 70 seconds.
Up next
The Canadiens host the Rangers on Tuesday and the Bruins are home against the Red Wings the same night.
___
AP NHL:
Ken Powtak, The Associated Press
