The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Boston Bruins on Saturday night, looking to beat their historic rivals in a battle of

MONTREAL -- The Boston Bruins went 7-for-7 on the penalty kill and held off the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at Bell Centre on Saturday. Marat Khusnutdinov, Mason Lohrei and Viktor Arvidsson scored, and David Pastrnak had two assists for Boston (12-8-0), which has won eight of its past nine games. Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves.

Marat Khusnutdinov, right, celebrates with Bruins teammates David Pastrnak, center, and Charlie McAvoy after scoring the game’s first goal Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

A redirected shot on a Montreal power play jumped up and hit Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy in the face. Players on both teams motioned to the Boston bench, and medical staff came onto the ice in a hurry. The Bruins announced that McAvoy wouldn’t return early in the third period.

The visiting Boston Bruins scored twice in the second period to break a 1-1 tie and held on to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in Saturday night's battle of the top two teams in the Atlantic Division.

The Boston Bruins scored a big road win over the rival Canadiens, taking control of the Atlantic Division with the win.

There will be a homecoming on Saturday night as Mascouche, Quebec, native Jonathan Aspirot appears set to sub back into the Boston lineup. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut on Oct. 28 against the Islanders and played six games before sitting out the last two as a healthy scratch.

The Montreal Canadiens (10-5-2) are set to host the Boston Bruins (11-8-0), with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm