Backes back, gives Bos 7th win in row

David Backes scored the deciding goal in his first game in nearly a month, David Pastrnak added his league-leading 25th goal, and the Bruins won their seventh straight game, beating the Canadiens 3-1 on Sunday night in Boston.

Backes’ first goal of the season came off a feed from David Krejci, with 9:31 remaining in the third.

Backes was in the lineup for the first time since being injured during a scary collision with the Senators’ Scott Sabourin on Nov. 2.

Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins.

The Bruins pushed their point streak to 11 games (8-0-3) and are the only team without a home regulation loss (11-0-4).

The Canadiens extended their season-high losing streak to eight games (0-5-3).

One-timers: Mikko Koivu scored the shootout winner in his 1,000th career game and reached 700th career points with a second-period assist to lead the host Wild over the Stars. Koivu beat Ben Bishop with his trademark move, a backhand over the goalie’s left shoulder. Then Alex Stalock, who made 26 saves, stuffed Corey Perry to seal the victory. ... Blue Jackets D Zach Werenski, the team’s third-leading scorer, will be out four weeks with a shoulder injury. ... Penguins D Brian Dumoulin will be out eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair lacerated tendons in his left ankle.