Benoit Pouliot returns to the lineup after missing the Habs' last five games. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
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Ready, set, go!
The Canadiens’ final sprint to the playoffs officially gets underway tonight with a tilt against the Bruins at TD Garden (7 PM ET). Montreal sits in eighth heading into the contest, one point and spot behind its long-time rival. The Eastern Conference standings remain as muddled as ever, with just a five-point gap between sixth and 11th place.
Jacques Martin’s squad had a chance to improve its position heading into the break but faltered in back-to-back outings against the Flyers. The team has taken three of the four meetings against Boston this season, including both as the visitor in a shootout.
The Bruins snapped their three-game skid versus the Habs and a 10-game slide overall in their last tilt on Feb. 7, with a 3-0 triumph. That sparked a four-game winning streak for Claude Julien’s charges, who are riding the hot hand of Tuukka Rask in goal. The young Finn will make his seventh consecutive start.
Carey Price gets the call for the Canadiens. The 22-year-old is 2-0 against Boston this season and 8-2-2 lifetime; he’s given up just two goals on 81 shots in this year’s outings. Fresh off his Olympic debut, Jaroslav Halak will back him up.
Welcome back
A fully healthy Habs lineup in 2009-10 has been as rare a sighting as Georges Laraque eating a filet mignon. The team is getting closer, though, and will count on two key returns among their top six tonight.
Out of action since suffering a knee injury on Dec. 31, Andrei Kostitsyn slides back into his spot alongside Tomas Plekanec. With Michael Cammalleri still on the sidelines, younger brother Sergei will complete the unit. While timing might be an issue for the elder Kostitsyn after such a long layoff, chemistry likely won’t be. Beyond the obvious connection between the brothers is the fact that the trio has skated together in the past.
Benoit Pouliot is also back after sitting out the last five games with an upper body injury. He’ll rejoin linemates Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta.
Matt D’Agostini and a now healthy Paul Mara are the scratches.
No strangers to a busy infirmary themselves, it’s been less for the Bruins of late. Defenceman Mark Stuart returns after a long absence. Newly-minted Olympic gold medallist Patrice Bergeron hurt his groin during the tournament and won’t face the Canadiens.
Players to watch
The Bruins might be wishing Andrei Kostitsyn would miss tonight’s tilt. The Habs’ sniper has 19 points in as many career games against Boston, including six on the power play.
Glen Metropolit has been a bit of a thorn in his former team’s side this season, scoring in each of Montreal’s three wins.
Veteran Marco Sturm has 14 goals in 36 career games against the Canadiens.
Zdeno Chara had four points in five games before the Olympic break.
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