Canadiens Game 66: Lineup Changes Versus the Bruins

The Montreal Canadiens (25-30-10) are set to host the Boston Bruins (38-14-15) at the Bell Center on Thursday night. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET.

The Habs are coming off a rare shutout win, a 3-0 effort versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. Brendan Gallagher set the tone, while the two youngest players in the lineup, Juraj Slafkovsky and Joshua Roy, followed suit.

But the story of the night was the play from goaltender Cayden Primeau. Not only did he register his second career shutout, but he also saved more than 40 shots once the Canadiens decided to rest on their first-period laurels.

Primeau will not start the game versus the Bruins, as Samuel Montembeault gets the nod, but now that Jake Allen has been traded to the New Jersey Devils, Primeau won’t have to wait very long before he takes to the ice. In previous months, it would take a week or two (or three) to be given another start in the Canadiens’ crease.

Both Jordan Harris and Colin White will enter the lineup against the Bruins, while Jayden Struble, Michael Pezzetta, and Jesse Ylonen watch the game as healthy scratches.

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As for the Bruins, they’re no longer the top team in the NHL, but they’ve done quite well despite losing captain Patrice Bergeron to retirement. They currently have 90 points and trail just the Florida Panthers in their quest to secure back-to-back Eastern Conference Titles.

Games between the Habs and the Bruins are always intense, but this time around the Habs will have their hands full with a team that has won eight of its last 10 games.

Simply put, the Bruins seem to already be in playoff mode.

At least that’s the case for David Pastrnak, who is nearing 100 points. The Bruins superstar currently has 41 goals and 53 assists in just 67 games this season. There’s a significant gap between Pastrnak and the next-highest scorer, Brad Marchand. That’s not to say Marchand is having a bad season, but his 58 points pale in comparison to Pastrnak’s elite production.

It’s also worth remembering that Pastrnak was chosen 25th overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Late-round picks don’t hold as much value as early picks, but there’s definitely a possibility talent can drop, which is what the Canadiens are hoping will happen next season when they’re ready to use Winnipeg’s first-round pick.

For the view from the other side of the rink make sure to visit our sister site, Boston Hockey Now.

Montreal Canadiens Injuries

• Carey Price (IR)
• Chris Wideman (IR)
• Kirby Dach (out indefinitely, ACL/MCL)
• Colin White (out)
• Christian Dvorak (out)

Boston Bruins Injuries

• Kent Johnson (IR)
• Jordan Dumais (out)
• Adam Fantilli (out)
• Patrik Laine (IR)

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Boston Bruins Projected Lineup

Heinen – Zacha – Pastrnak

Marchand – Coyle – DeBrusk

Van Riemsdyk – Geekie – Frederic

Lauko – Boqvist – Brazeau

Defence

Lohrei – McAvoy

Lindholm – Carlo

Wotherspoon – Peeke

Goalie

Ullmark

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