The Boston Bruins will see a handful of lineup changes from last game as they prepare to take on the Montreal Canadiens.
The Boston Bruins are set to take on the Montreal Canadiens for the fourth and final time this season at Bell Centre on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
Last time these two teams matched up, Danton Heinen scored his first NHL hat trick en route to a 9-4 thrashing on Jan. 20. The 28-year-old forward has been playing on a line with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak recently.
“I think he gives them a little bit of a defensive mindset,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters in Montreal on Thursday. “He’s been great on our penalty kill all year. He understands how to end plays and support people offensively, as well.”
The Bruins team making the trip this time around will look different in a lot of areas compared to the win two months ago.
Matt Grzelcyk and James van Riemsdyk will not play due to illnesses. Neithers players practiced on Wednesday and were questionable for the Montreal game. Additionally, Kevin Shattenkirk will draw out of the lineup.
Replacing those three are Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher and Andrew Peeke. Beecher is back with the Bruins on an emergency recall and last played in the NHL on Jan. 13.
Peeke, meanwhile, will be making his Bruins debut after he was acquired at the trade deadline last Friday. The 25-year-old defenseman had one goal and eight points in 23 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season before arriving in Boston.
“I’ve watched those [Bruins-Canadiens matchups] for a long time now,” Peeke said on Wednesday. “No matter who’s playing at the Bell Centre, it’s a pretty special place.”
Five Things to Know About the Canadiens:
- The Canadiens have won just three of their past 12 games (3-7-2).
- Montreal has the sixth-lowest scoring offense (2.75 goals per game) and seventh-worst scoring defense (3.43 goals allowed per game).
- The Canadiens have the 10th-worst power play (19.0%) and sixth-worst penalty kill (75.6%).
- Nick Suzuki leads the team with 61 points (25 goals, 36 assists) in 65 games.
- Expected starter Sam Montembeault has a .904 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average this season.
Other Links: