The Bruins will look to learn from their 3-2 overtime loss against the Canadiens last weekend.
The Boston Bruins are hosting the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night at TD Garden for a 7p.m. puck drop. The Atlantic Division rivals played last Saturday as well, where the B’s fell 3-2 in overtime at Bell Centre.
The Bruins are refocusing following the news of Milan Lucic’s indefinite leave of absence from the team due to an alleged domestic incident. Captain Brad Marchand said his group is trying to “stay in the moment.”
“I think the biggest thing is just try to stay in the moment. It’s something we’ve always preached in here,” Marchand said after Saturday morning’s optional skate. “When you come to the rink, you look at the game notes and start trying to remind yourself of the things you need to do to be successful.”
It was a lightly attended optional skate, so no line rushes, but both Matt Grzelcyk and Morgan Geekie participated in regular jerseys. Earlier this week Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Nov. 25 against the New York Rangers is the earliest Grzelcyk could return, and Geekie was looking at another week.
Boston placed forward Patrick Brown on waivers Friday – which he cleared Saturday afternoon – but Montgomery said the move was for “roster flexibility” and not a sign that Geekie was making an early return. The Bruins can now send Brown – who skated with the team Saturday – to Providence (AHL) or keep him in Boston.
Nov 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates against the New York Islanders during the third period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY SportsMontgomery has put an emphasis on defending off the rush and cleaning up the little details for his team this week, areas that were exposed last Saturday against Montreal.
“Just how dangerous Montreal is off the rush and how we have to take better care of the puck and we have to be connected as five people, especially in our tracking,” Montgomery said of what he learned about the Canadiens. “I thought they played well and they put us in difficult situations. Hopefully we’ve learned from that and will be better tonight.”
Saturday’s game is also the second Centennial era night of the season, this time celebrating the “Big Bad Bruins” teams and players from 1960-76. The Bruins will wear their Centennial alternate jerseys to go with the theme, and there will be a pregame ceremony to celebrate members from the championship-winning squads during that era.
“I think it’s important that you respect how the game became so great and why you’re so fortunate to be part of the NHL,” Montgomery said. “It’s because of the footprints that so many great players that have worn the Black and Gold and what they’ve done in the community, what they’ve done for the city.”