BOSTON, March 20 (UPI) -- Two goals and an assist from Alex Kovalev Thursday lifted the Montreal Canadiens to a 4-2 win over Boston and into first place in the Eastern Conference.
It was Montreal's 10th straight victory over the Bruins.
The Canadiens ran their points total to 92, one more than idle New Jersey. The Devils, however, have two games in hand.
Carey Price stopped 34 shots in the first game of a home-and-home series between the teams.
Boston has lost two in a row and five out of six. Tim Thomas gave up four goals on 30 shots and the Bruins remained only one point in front of Philadelphia for seventh place in the conference playoff race.
Kovalev scored his two goals in a span of just over five minutes of the second period to give the Canadians a 2-0 lead.
