Bruins best Canadiens in Julien’s Boston return

Montreal Canadiens coach Claude Julien won more games with Boston than any other coach in Bruins history, but his inside knowledge of his former team didn’t prove to be of much help to the Habs on Wednesday night.

Ryan Spooner’s second-period goal broke a 1-1 tie and David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and David Krejci all scored to help the Bruins beat the rival Canadiens 4-1 in Julien’s return to TD Garden in Boston for the first time since he was fired last February.

Julien, who won a franchise-record 419 games and a Stanley Cup during his 10-year coaching tenure with the Bruins, received a standing ovation from the home crowd during the first period.

“You come here as a home team coach and now you come here as a visitor, [it’s] a little strange,” Julien said before the game. There’s nothing to dislike about this city and right now, it’s about coming in here and hopefully making them not like you so much.”

Tuukka Rask made 21 saves to help the Bruins extend their points streak to 14 games (10-0-4).

In other NHL action, scoring a season-high four goals in the second period, the Anaheim Ducks dumped the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3.

Rickard Rakell, Adam Henrique, Chris Wagner and Ondrej Kase potted the game-deciding markers for Anaheim, which moved within two points of a Western Conference wild-card playoff spot. John Gibson earned the win in net with 30 saves.

Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm sealed the verdict with his seventh goal, an empty-netter with one second to play.

Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel scored goals for Pittsburgh, which started its three-game California road trip with a thud after winning its previous four games. Goalie Tristan Jarry took the loss, stopping 28 of 32 shots.

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Anaheim’s Cam Fowler each notched two assists.