Montreal (7-8-0) at Boston (6-7-1)

  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Thu Nov 5, 2009
  • TV: TSN, RDS

By MIKE LIPKA, STATS Writer Nov 5, 11:44 am EST

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As the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Bruins quickly escorted the Montreal Canadiens out of the playoffs last spring, but the banged-up Bruins look like a different team in the midst of a major offensive drought.

The Canadiens, meanwhile, are having trouble stopping the puck going into the archrivals’ first meeting of the season, and these struggling clubs will try to sort out their issues as they face off Thursday night at the TD Garden.

Little went wrong for Boston during a dominating regular-season run in 2008-09, but the Bruins (6-7-1) have been derailed by a punchless offense that is playing without injured top-line forwards Marc Savard(notes) and Milan Lucic(notes). They also lost leading goal scorer Phil Kessel(notes) to Toronto in the offseason.

Boston hasn’t scored in more than 130 minutes after getting blanked in back-to-back games on its recent road trip - the first time that has happened to the Bruins since March 17 and 20, 2007.

They have scored a total of three goals in their last four games, losing three times despite allowing five goals.

“We’re going to have to decide that we’re tired of hearing we had a good effort without winning,” coach Claude Julien said after Tuesday night’s 2-0 loss to Detroit.

Center David Krejci(notes) and former Montreal winger Michael Ryder(notes) are among the most snake-bitten of the Bruins. Krejci has five points after totaling 73 last season, and Ryder has been held without a point in six straight games.

The Bruins announced Thursday that Krejci has been diagnosed with swine flu and will be kept away from the team until he has had no symptoms or fever for 24 hours.

Ryder was at his best against his former club in last season’s playoffs, totaling four goals and three assists in the four-game sweep, which avenged three postseason defeats to Montreal this decade and abruptly ended the Habs’ 100th season.

Including playoffs, Boston won its final nine games against the Canadiens last season after losing 13 in a row in one stretch in the see-saw rivalry from 2007-08.

The Bruins could continue the run if they can exploit Montreal’s struggling defense, which has allowed 18 goals while losing three of four - a surprising problem under defensive-minded first-year coach Jacques Martin.

“What concerns me most is our lack of effectiveness in protecting our goaltender,” Martin said. “Part of that starts in the offensive zone with back pressure - helping the defense - but also in being more effective in the defensive zone.”

Carey Price(notes) lost his sixth straight start and saw his goals-against average swell to 3.63 on Tuesday as Montreal fell 5-4 at home to Atlanta.

Backup Jaroslav Halak(notes) could get his eighth start Thursday. Halak has won five of his last six appearances, but he’s 0-2-0 with a 4.83 GAA in two road starts.

With nine goals in their last two games, the Canadiens (7-8-0) are starting to see some results offensively after they revamped their top forward lines in the offseason. Newcomer Mike Cammalleri scored his team-leading seventh goal against the Thrashers, while Brian Gionta(notes) had his first two-goal game for Montreal.

Last season’s Habs couldn’t mount much offense against Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas(notes), who was 8-0-1 with a 1.85 GAA versus Montreal, including playoffs.

After a rough start to his season, Thomas has been rounding back into form. He has posted a 1.70 GAA in his last three starts even though he has lost all of them.

Updated Nov 5, 11:44 am EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
Montreal 25 12 12 1 25 4th, Northeast 63 72 5-7-0 Road
Boston 24 12 8 4 28 1st, Northeast 59 59 6-5-2 Home

Notes

Last game: 4-1 loss vs. Boston, April 22 Series: Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinal, 4-0 Montreal completed its 100th season with eight straight losses, including its last four regular-season games. ... LW Alex Tanguay was unable to play for Montreal. A game-time decision, he missed his second straight game because of an upper body injury. ... G Carey Price made 26 saves Wednesday. He started all four games, though he was pulled in Game Two after allowing five goals through the first two periods. ... The Canadiens were 0-for-2 on the power play.

Apr 23, 12:08 am EDT

The Bruins won the Eastern Conference quarterfinal for their first playoff series win in 10 years. ... RW Michael Ryder, who signed as a free agent after he was a healthy scratch for all but four of the Montreal Canadiens' 12 playoff games last season, scored twice on Wednesday. He recorded 27 goals in 74 regular-season contests. ... LW Milan Lucic returned to the Bruins' lineup after serving a one-game league suspension Monday and fought with Mike Komisarek late in the second period. ... RW Byron Bitz was left out of the lineup. Bitz replaced Lucic in the lineup Monday and recorded an assist in his playoff debut.

Apr 23, 12:02 am EDT
NHL

16 Comments

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  1. Dutch
    16. Posted by Dutch Fri Nov 6 4:49pm EST

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    What is going most unnoticed is that it was CAREY PRICE who had the B's shut out until the final minute! You know you're snake bit, struggling or just downright $hitty when you teeter on the abyss of being shut out 3 straight games including a home game with Carey Price as the opposing goalie! Wow.
  2. Aaron
    15. Posted by Aaron Fri Nov 6 3:55pm EST

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    At least Thomas is starting to rebound into his Vezina-winning form, though it's a shame that at the same time, his team suddenly forgot how to score.

    Oh well, like others have said, there are 82 games in a season, and with Thomas (and Rask) currently playing pretty darn well, it will be a matter of time until they start putting the biscuit in the basket on a regular basis.
  3. cathypare65
    14. Posted by cathypare65 Fri Nov 6 12:15pm EST

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    Lu D ,i pretty much agree with your post ,Hamrlik also needs to step it up until Markov returns. I wonder if one of our goalies (Price or Halak could be part of a trade this year).Sanford looks great with the Bulldogs and i think could provide our backup role.
  4. bluemoon
    13. Posted by bluemoon Fri Nov 6 11:26am EST

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    Boston was lucky last year in the reguler season, first 40 game great , second 40 awful , playoff awful, they were never realy that good ,the second round in playoff last year just show how badd they were , they were playing like it was in a regular game , their was no fire or passion to win the second round playoff series, the game the last game they lost to put them out off playoff was just plain awful no fire or passion to win the game , even know it was a do or die game,this year itt not goaltending , the problem is lack of scoring , the best place seniro for boston this year ia 12 place team out of the playoff. see no passsion or fire to win the games ,does mater how manny injuries out thier they don't try to win the game
  5. NE Habs Fan
    12. Posted by NE Habs Fan Fri Nov 6 7:50am EST

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    Too bad that one squeaked in with less than a minute to go. I always like to see the Habs earn a shutout. (Also always like to see the B's shutout .)

    Oh well, it's still got to be a confidence booster for Price.

    Maybe all the newbies on the Canadiens are starting to gel.
  6. Lu
    11. Posted by Lu Fri Nov 6 12:55am EST

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    I'm a Habs fan first of all. But reading the comments here, hey, let's be objective.

    The Bruins had a tremendous year last year, they had a game-breaker in Kessel...but they still have tremendous depth in Savard, Krejci, Lucic, Wheeler, Chara, Svobotka, Ryder, Recchiand an unorthodox but very effective goalie in Thomas. This team is going through a funk and they'll be competing very soon i'm sure.

    I love my Habs, and they need to bring it together in a hurry, tonight was a good defensive game first...they really need that mentality, they have decent scoring, but you almost feel they depend too much on their big line. They need secondary scoring from Plekanec, Kostityn, Metropolit and all the way down to the 3rd line. Defensemen is my biggest worry...Bergeon, Gill, Georges, are all having tough starts...
  7. steady
    10. Posted by steady Fri Nov 6 12:19am EST

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    Dudes, there's 82 games in a season. Both Boston and Montreal had hot and cold spurts last year. I agree anything can happen in a salary cap era, but that does mean that ANYTHING can happen. Good game for two teams that really need to get it together.
  8. e
    9. Posted by e Thu Nov 5 11:54pm EST

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    As a lifetime Bruins fan, this team is a disgrace and good to see PC did nothing positive in the offseason (learn to manage the cap) and CJ didn't have them prepared for the season just like he didn't have them prepared for Carolina in the playoffs. Savard needs a goal scorer which the B's no longer have.
  9. red blood
    8. Posted by red blood Thu Nov 5 11:10pm EST

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    The analysts had it right when they said the Bruins would slip this year. They overachieved big time last year.
    Good on Price. had some bad luck and had to stand on his head to get this one. The D wasn't very good in front of him in his losses albeit he did let in some crappy goals. Good win. Go Habs Go.
  10. RICHARD S
    7. Posted by RICHARD S Thu Nov 5 10:48pm EST

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    Nice to see Boston come back down to earth so far this season. Played way over their heads last year and injuries to key players are hurting the B's as well (try playing without Markov). A lot can change in 1 year in post lockout NHL, Bruins like the Habs may be lucky to get a playoff spot. Hope Krecji is not too sick with the H1N1 flu and Price (thought Halak would get the nod) finaly looked good against a team that had their way with him last year. Good job Carey, a 2 no 1 goalie situation is good for the Habs.
  11. Nytemare
    6. Posted by Nytemare Thu Nov 5 10:22pm EST

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    Boston can't score?

    Hmm
    No Savard
    No Lucic
    No Kessel
    No Kobasew
    No Krejci

    Wait they added Steve Begin that's all they need right?

    Guess not.
  12. <i>ffefreekshow</i>
    5. Posted by ffefreekshow Thu Nov 5 10:00pm EST

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    Good to see the good guys win tonight. Boston isn't so good when they have to play skill hockey instead of goon hockey.
  13. Spock
    4. Posted by Spock Thu Nov 5 9:55pm EST

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    Recchi on the shootout? How about Sturm or Ryder instead! Oh well, at least the Bruins got 1 point for their effort.
  14. Lu
    3. Posted by Lu Thu Nov 5 5:53pm EST

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    Both teams will bring their A game...the only problem is nobody on the MOntreal team is around anymore to remember last year...this will be a toss-up, both teams are playing poorly. The Habs are scoring but letting more in, and the Bruins aren't scoring at all...
  15. habsrock
    2. Posted by habsrock Thu Nov 5 12:09pm EST

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    wokwis, you must already be drunk-canadiens light up tim palmateer, oops i mean thomas
  16. Wokwis
    1. Posted by Wokwis Thu Nov 5 7:47am EST

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    Ryder and Bergeron will steer Boston to another win tonight. Go Boston.
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