(Photo Credits: NBC Sports)
By: Liz Rizzo | Follow me on Twitter @pastagrl88
The Boston Bruins head up north for the first of a back-to-back and they’ll do it without some familiar faces, the biggest one being Patrice Bergeron. The team announced yesterday that the 34-year-old top center is still nursing a lower-body injury, meaning he won’t be available for the trip.
NAGGING INJURIES
With the team taking a cautious approach when it comes to Bergeron’s health, Boston will once again need to overcome the challenge. The organization also announced that Brett Ritchie is out due to an infection and Par Lindhom will return to the line-up.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney also announced that the team has recalled Providence’s Brendan Guance and Jack Studnicka. Both players have done well down in Providence: Gaunce has netted six goals and five assists so far. Studnicka, who is making his NHL debut tonight, leads the team with nine goals and nine assists.
LITTLE BALL OF STATS
After hitting a rough patch earlier in the month, the Bruins are looking to end November on a strong note. Boston have won their last three games with a wild comeback win over the Minnesota Wild this past Saturday night.
The team saw the return of defenseman Torey Krug, who netted the game winning over-time goal. Brad Marchand, who for the second time was named NHL First Star Of The Week, is having quite the start to his season.
(Photo Credits: USA Today)
The 31-year-old winger leads the team with 39 points and 23 assists. He has nine points with five goals in his last five games. Marchand is also tied for first in the league in Plus-Minus (17) and is third for points. Fellow line-mate David Pastrnak leads the league with 20 goals and power-play goals (11).
With the recent wins, Boston has improved to 15-3-5 and still leads the Atlantic Division, They are now only second in the league behind the Washington Capitals. In the last 10 games, Boston is 5-2-3. Expect Jaroslav Halak (4-1-3) in net for the Bruins. The last time these two teams met, the Habs ended the Bruins winning streak, defeating them 5-4, amidst a controversial offside call.
BLEU, BLANC, ROUGE
Montreal’s Tomas Tatar leads the team in points (20) and in assists (13). Right-winger Brendan Gallagher leads the team with nine goals. The Canadiens are looking to rebound after losing 6-5 to the New York Rangers this past Saturday.
After having a 4-0 lead in the second period, the Rangers stormed back to score three goals. Montreal scored in the third making it 5-3, however, New York netted three more, defeating the Habs.
(Photo Credits: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Canadiens (11-7-5) are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division. Expect Carey Price (10-6-0) in net for the Habs. In their last 10 games, Montreal is 4-3-3. Left-winger Phillip Danault has six points in his last five games with Nick Suzuki having three goals in his last five games.
PROJECTED LINES BOSTON:
Marchand – Krejci – Pastrnak
DeBrusk – Studnicka – Coyle
Bjork – Kuraly – Heinen
Nordstrom – Lindholm – Wagner (Gaunce)
DEFENSE
Chara – McAvoy
Krug – Carlo
Grzelcyk – Clifton
Moore – Kampfer
Rask
Halak
PROJECTED LINES MONTREAL:
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki
Hudon – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Cousins – Thompson – Weal
DEFENSE
Chiarot – Weber
Mete – Petry
Reilly – Fleury
Kulak – Folin
Price
Kinkaid
WHERE TO WATCH: ESPN+, NESN
WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:00 PM, Centre Bell- Montreal, Quebec
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