MONTREAL — The Boston Bruins were trying to take a game from Montreal. Instead, the Canadiens just handed it over.

All three Boston goals came on giveaways, and veteran Montreal winger Alex Kovalev was benched for most of the third period as the Bruins beat the Canadiens 3-1 on Sunday to become the NHL's first team to reach 80 points.

"We lost to the best team in the conference, but on all three goals, we had control of the puck," Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said. "You can do that against some teams, but not against them."

Dennis Wideman scored with less than 1 second left in the first period, Shawn Thornton got the game-winner in the second and Marc Savard added an empty-net goal with 57 seconds remaining for Boston, which leads the conference by 13 points.

The Bruins beat their Northeast Division rival for the fourth time in a row, improving to 4-1 this season against the Canadiens. Boston, which beat the New York Rangers 1-0 on Saturday, has earned a point in six straight games and has lost only once in regulation in its last 11 (8-1-2).

"We've had young kids this year that have come of age, we've had some key additions to the team, we've had guys step up when other players were injured, and then we've had veteran players that have raised their game," said goalie Tim Thomas, who finished with 27 saves. "And the coaches have done a great job — all the work they've put in from 10 different areas has started to pay off."

In the only other NHL games Sunday, Washington beat Ottawa 7-4 and Nashville edged Edmonton 2-1.

Robert Lang scored his 18th goal of the season late in the first period for slumping Montreal, which has one win in its last six games and now trails Boston by 18 points in the division.

Capitals 7, Senators 4

At Washington, Alex Ovechkin scored three goals for his seventh career hat trick and second of the season for the Capitals.

Ovechkin scored his goals in the first two periods with Sergei Fedorov getting assists on each. Mike Green added a goal and three assists, and Eric Fehr, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom also scored for Washington.

Daniel Alfredsson scored twice for the Senators and Dany Heatley and Antoine Vermette had a goal apiece.

Predators 2, Oilers 1

At Edmonton, Alberta, Pekka Rinne made 32 saves to lead Nashville.

Martin Erat and J.P. Dumont scored for the Predators, who held on.