Montreal’s 1-0 advantage lasted all of 6:43, though, erased when Kessel scored his third goal at 18:35, allowing the Bruins to head off to their dressing room with a 1-1 draw through the first 20 minutes.

Thornton, who scored six goals in 79 games during the regular season, gave Boston a 2-1 lead when he scored 3:36 into the second.

Thornton recorded his first point in 25 playoff games overall when he beat Price from the left side of the slot with a shot inside the left post after taking a setup pass from behind the net by Byron Bitz, who took Lucic’s spot in the lineup and made his playoff debut.

“Any time I score, I’m excited because I’m not getting 50 a year, that’s for sure,” Thornton said. “My linemates did an unbelievable job. I threw it on net and it was lucky enough to go in for me, but Bitzy did a great job hanging onto that puck and making a good play. Any time we can chip in, it’s a plus.”

Weber tied it at 2 with his first playoff goal at 5:16.

Notes: Thornton won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, playing 15 games without recording a point for the Ducks. He has appeared in 10 playoff games with the Bruins. ... Canadiens D Ryan O’Byrne dressed for the first time in the series, and LW Gregory Stewart made his playoff debut. ... Weber had one assist in three regular-season games.

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