Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort, Matt Poitras and Linus Ullmark will all return to the lineup Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Boston Bruins will face the Montreal Canadiens for the third time this season Saturday night at TD Garden for a 7 p.m. puck drop.
The Canadiens took the first game of the season series 3-2 on Nov. 11 at the Bell Centre. The Bruins came back a week later and beat Montreal 5-2 on home ice on Nov. 18.
Boston comes into Saturday’s game with its most complete lineup in the past month. Per Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort and Matt Poitras will all return from injury and play Saturday.
Carlo told reporters Saturday that he suffered a concussion against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 8.
“Obviously I’ve been through this before, so it’s something that I take seriously…Overall I wouldn’t put myself in this position if I didn’t feel fully confident to be out there and playing to the best of my ability,” Carlo said.
Linus Ullmark is also back from injury and will get the start in his first game since Jan. 9. The goaltender has a 2.75 goals against average and .916 save percentage through 21 games.
“Even though it hasn’t been too long, it’s always a little sour standing on the side, you want to be in it,” Ullmark told reporters Saturday. “You miss what you don’t have.”
Mason Lohrei, Parker Wotherspoon and Oskar Steen will draw out of the lineup as Carlo, Forbort and Poitras slot back in. The Bruins will have to make a roster transaction now – likely sending Lohrei back to AHL Providence – but Montgomery said he wasn’t sure what the exact move would be yet.
The Bruins are riding a three-game win streak, most recently beating the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 Thursday night at TD Garden. David Pastrnak had a hat trick in the win, and Jakub Lauko netted his first goal of the season.
Boston will celebrate its fourth Centennial Era Night on Saturday, this time honoring the ‘New Blood, New Beginnings’ era that spanned from 1986-2000. There will be a pregame ceremony to highlight some of the biggest moments from that time.
Nov 18, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki (14) has his hand lifted off his stick by Boston Bruins center Danton Heinen (43) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsFive things to know about the Canadiens:
- The Canadiens are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Friday in which they dropped to a 19-19-7 record for sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Montreal has lost four of its last six games.
- Forward Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens in points with 37 (12 goals, 25 assists). Suzuki is skating on the first line with Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
- Cole Caufield tops Montreal with 15 goals, six of which have come on the power play. Caufield is on the first unit with Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Sean Monahan and Michael Matheson.
- Sam Montembeault is expected to start in net for the Canadiens. The goaltender has posted a 2.85 GAA and .910 SV% through 21 games. Montembeault last played on Jan. 17 against the New Jersey Devils and made 30 saves in the 2-1 win.
- Josh Anderson will return to the lineup against the Bruins. The forward has been day-to-day with a lower-body injury since Jan. 11, but skated in a regular jersey with the team Saturday morning and practiced on the second line with Jake Evans and Brendan Gallagher.
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