Canadiens snap Bruins' seven-game winning streak on home ice with 5-2 win

BOSTON (AP) — Josh Anderson and Jake Evans each had a goal and an assist as the Montreal Canadiens leapfrogged the Boston Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings with a 5-2 win on Thursday night.

Now 9-0-3 in its past 12 games, Montreal came in trailing Boston by one point for the top spot in the division. Kirby Dach, Cole Caufield and Phillip Danault also scored for the Canadiens, who improved to 10–0–2 when leading after two periods. Jacob Fowler had 30 saves.

Boston’s seven-game winning streak on home ice was snapped. Jeremy Swayman was pulled after allowing four goals on 17 shots and was replaced by Michael DiPietro, who made 13 saves.

Casey Mittelstadt scored both of Boston’s goals and the Bruins outshot Montreal, 32-30.

Dach opened the scoring with a wraparound goal at 2:34 into the contest. He skated behind Swayman with a long reach enabling Dach to finish it himself for his second of the season.

Montreal took a 2-0 lead in the first period when Anderson planted himself in front of Swayman and deflected in a rebound for his eighth goal of the season.

The Canadiens extended their two-goal cushion when Evans went scored on a breakaway after taking a pass from Anderson. Montreal ended Swayman’s night at 11:46 of the second period when Caufield fired a shot from just outside the left circle into the top corner.

Swayman’s early exit and subsequent replacement by DiPietro marked the first time this season that Boston made an in-game change at goalie.

Boston got on the scoreboard after Danault scored on a long one-timer from the top of the right circle that made it 5-0. Mittelstadt made a backhand move for his first of two goals. His second goal came during the opening minute of the third period.

It was the first of four regular-season meetings between the Original Six franchises.

Canadiens: Host Colorado on Saturday.

Bruins: Continue four-game homestand against Minnesota on Saturday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Montréal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) celebrates after his goal against Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (not shown) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montréal Canadiens' Jake Evans (71) scores against Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman (1) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montréal Canadiens' Jake Evans celebrates after his goal against Boston Bruins' Jeremy Swayman during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Montréal Canadiens' Phillip Danault (24) is congratulated by Alexandre Carrier (45) after scoring against Boston Bruins' Michael DiPietro the during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Victor Eklund scored for the fourth straight game, and the New York Islanders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Matthew Schaefer scored in his 100th NHL game, Simon Holmstrom had a goal and an assist, Bo Horvat scored a late empty-netter, and the Islanders picked up at least a point for the third straight game. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves.

Trevor Moore and Quinton Byfield scored, and Kevin Fiala had an assist in his season debut as the Kings lost their third straight game. Playing in his 500th career game, Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves.

Schaefer and Eklund, two of the Islanders’ young cornerstones, came up with key contributions while each picking up a point for the fourth straight game.

Schaefer had a power-play goal to put New York back up 2-1 midway through the first period, his 29th career goal and 77th point at the century mark of games played. Schaefer moved up to fourth in career points by a teenage defenseman, behind Hall of Famers Phil Housley (132) and Ray Bourque (79) and Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin (84).

Eklund made it 3-1 early in the second period, becoming the third New York rookie to score in four straight games in the past 20 years and 11th overall.

Fiala played for the first time since breaking his left leg at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February, but the offensive-minded winger’s presence could not enough to get the Kings back on track. Fiala did have the secondary assist on Byfield’s power-play goal, which marked the 300th helper of his career.

Islanders: At Anaheim on Saturday.

Kings: Host Calgary on Saturday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) scores past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) checks New York Islanders defenseman Ben Hutton (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal with right wing Mitchell Chaffee (26), left wing Matias MacCelli (63), and defenseman Adam Pelech (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)