Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Stephane Yelle scored twice while Manny Fernandez stopped 27 shots as the Boston Bruins broke a 12-game losing streak against Montreal with a 6-1 thrashing of the Canadiens at TD Banknorth Garden.

"(The fourth line) has worked hard all season, and we've had some chances," Yelle said. "On a night like tonight when you get a few goals, that's a big thing."

Marco Sturm also lit the lamp twice for the Bruins, winners of five straight and eight of nine. Shawn Thornton and Milan Lucic also tallied once each for Boston, which hadn't beaten their perennial rivals since a 3-1 victory on March 3, 2007.

Saku Koivu picked up the lone goal for the Canadiens, who have dropped three of four. Carey Price was shelled for all six goals on 31 shots.

"Usually we're known for being consistent, and after a bad effort we usually get the streak going again," Koivu said. "There's no explanation why after Tuesday's (win) we come back and play like we did tonight."

The Bruins got all the offense they needed in the opening 20 minutes, striking three times.

Thornton put the B's on the board with a backhander at 2:31 and Yelle made it 2-0 with three minutes left in the first.

Sturm's power-play marker gave Boston a three-goal edge with only seven seconds to play in the period, then tacked on his second man-advantage score of the game 3:44 into the second for a 4-0 lead.

Koivu finally answered for the Habs with 6:26 remaining in the second as Fernandez misplayed a rebound right to the Montreal captain for a wraparound.

Lucic gave the home team a four-goal edge at 4:42 of the third and Yelle's second of the game at 8:44 opened up a 6-1 margin for the Bruins, who coasted the rest of the way.

Game Notes

Yelle also had an assist, giving him three points in a game for the first time since recording three helpers in a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers on February 18, 2000 when he was with the Colorado Avalanche...Bruins forward Chuck Kobasew picked up a pair of assists...Canadiens forward Alex Tanguay was credited with the lone assist on Koivu's goal...Former Canadien Michael Ryder also earned a point for Boston...Fernandez improved to 4-0-1 in his last five starts.