Bruins Aim To Heap More Misery On Canadiens In Montreal

These are turbulent times in Montreal. Boston would love nothing more than to further compound their misery.

The Bruins and Canadiens are set to do battle on Tuesday night at Bell Centre for the fifth and final time in the regular season. Two massive points are on the line as both clubs look to gain some separation from the pack of teams chasing them down for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Boston holds the first wild card spot with Montreal right behind them, one point back in the second wild card position. Behind Les Habitants sit five teams all within two points of that eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

For the first time all season, the Bruins sit ahead of their rivals in the standings. Not many around New England thought it would be possible given how both teams started the season. Thanks to Montreal’s nosedive in the standings, both teams find themselves on a level playing field halfway through the season.

The Season Series So Far

Pacioretty and Plekanec combined to embarrass the Bruins at the Winter Classic. (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Keeping with recent tradition, the Habs have dominated the season series yet again over the Bruins.

Montreal has taken three of four from Boston this season, outscoring them 14-8. The first two matchups on October 10 in Boston and November 7 in Montreal were 4-2 victories for the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge. The third meeting of the season seemed to trend in the same direction, until 42 seconds of magic saw the Black and Gold steal two points courtesy of a 3-1 victory a month later.

Then came the Winter Classic. First place in the Atlantic Division was on the line in the NHL’s signature showcase on New Years Day. Unfortunately for Bruins Nation, they watched their hometown team stumble and fall flat on their face in a 5-1 drubbing at the expense of their arch nemesis. Massachusetts native Mike Condon recorded 27 saves in the victory while Black and Gold killer Max Pacioretty scored a goal and an assist.

Going back to March 2013, Boston is just 2-11-2 against Montreal although both wins have come at the Bell Centre. The Bruins defense has allowed 3.4 goals/game while scoring just over two in reply (2.07).

Montreal Meltdown

Going back to November 9, Montreal was 20 minutes away from taking a 12 point lead over Boston in the standings…

…until Loui Eriksson and Landon Ferraro scored 42 seconds apart to execute a smash-and-grab victory for the Black and Gold.

Montreal Canadiens one point away from being out of playoffs. #GetwellsoonCareyPrice
— Adrian Dater (@adater) 18 Janvier 2016

Since then, it’s been a free fall for coach Michel Therrien and his troops. The Canadiens have gone from leading the division to scrapping for a playoff spot after going 4-12-1 in the 17 games since 11/9. What had been one of the premier offensive attacks in the League has averaged just 1.94 goals/game while allowing over three per game to opponents. Furthermore, they’ve scored two goals or fewer in 12 of those 17 games, going 1-11-0.

Their goaltending hasn’t done the Canadiens any favors either. Condon has gone 3-6-1 in his last 12 appearances with a goals-against of 2.59 and a save percentage barely over .900 (.904). In an attempt to solve their goaltending woes, general manager Marc Bergevin acquired Ben Scrivens from Edmonton. That hasn’t worked out as the former Oilers backstop is winless in his three starts with Montreal with a 3.77 GAA and .882 save percentage. Where’s that Carey Price guy when you need him?

Sprinkle in the bizarre trade for NHL All-Star John Scott to top off what’s been a crazy six weeks in Montreal.

Bleh In Boston

As for Boston, they still struggle to find consistency and are trying to survive without the services of David Krejci. Since their victory in Montreal, the B’s are 9-7-2 and have made up 11 points on their rivals. However, they have only moved up one playoff spot thanks to Florida’s red-hot run and the emergence of Tampa Bay after their five-game win streak. The Bruins have been much better defensively while their offense is Jekyll and Hyde-like. They’ve scored three or more goals eight times and are 7-1-0 in those games while going 1-6-2 when they score two or fewer.

One constant has been the impressive play of Ryan Spooner. The 23-year-old center has taken the opportunity given to him by Bruins’ coach Claude Julien in the wake of Krejci’s injury playing alongside Matt Beleskey and Loui Eriksson. Spooner has scored 11 points in the nine games Krejci has missed and has been one of Boston’s most dynamic forwards. However, the Black and Gold are just 4-4-1 in that stretch, highlighting the need for a swift return from the upper-body injury that has sidetracked the Bruins’ offense at times.

The good news from Causeway Street is that Krejci is nearing a return to the lineup, which only bodes well for Julien and his troops down the stretch.

In their fifth and final matchup this season, the Bruins and Canadiens are two teams going in opposite directions. Boston is coming off back-to-back wins while the Habs have lost four straight.

There’s nothing more the Black and Gold would love to do than to send the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge further down the drain in what has turned into a scrap for playoff survival.