Boston: 21-7-3 Montreal: 20-7-5
The Montreal Canadiens will be in town Wednesday night with
first place in the Northeast Division up for the taking. By default Boston sits
ahead of Montreal because of its one game in hand. The Bruins are 1-1 against
the Habs this season. In the last meeting between these clubs we saw tempers
flare, fists fly, and emotions run high. Arguably the most important game of
the year for either side, expect these clubs to pick up right where they left
off March 3.
The Canadiens have been as good as any team in the NHL and
have played to an 11-3-2 road record. Boston, 11-2-1 on home ice, will look to
take a stand and build upon a come from behind win on Monday. The Habs rank
fourth in the NHL in scoring and have proven to be a tough matchup this season
for Boston. Montreal’s speed and top end scoring ability cannot be overlooked. Boston
will counter with a physical brand of hockey.
Come puck drop, the antics Montreal pulled last time out
will be fresh in the Bruins mind. A highly questionable cross check committed
by Montreal’s Alexei Emelin on Tyler Seguin will have the B’s tough guys out
for revenge. This game comes at just the right time because an agitated Boston
team seems to always play its best hockey.
Milan Lucic is the cog that gets the Bruins turning. He has
been very quiet of late but a goal against Toronto in his last game may help
get things back on track. Expect the Habs to try and mix things up, antagonize
the B’s, and coerce them into taking bad penalties. This game can be won if the
Bruins are able to harness their hatred of Montreal, overlook the child’s play,
and simply lay the offensive smack down. Lucic is a guy that plays a heavy
style of hockey and his imposing frame could cause havoc against an undersized
Habs squad.
Goaltending will be the difference in a game that is sure to
see its fair share of penalties. Tuukka Rask will likely oppose Carey Price.
Both goalies have had phenomenal Vezina worthy campaigns to date. The two are
an integral part of the success their organizations have endured and will each
have a say in who takes over first. Rask is coming off a victory in his last
showing, while Price was beaten by Pittsburgh Tuesday.
The Garden will be rocking as these ancient enemies link up
for yet another chapter in a series that never seems to grow old. There is no
love loss between these two sides and two points will be hard to come by.
Expect a physical, hard fought contest. Boston must exhibit poise and urgency
if they hope to emerge victorious at an incredibly important point on the
calendar.
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