Dominique Ducharme has to choose between goaltenders Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau for the second game of a back-to-back set.
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Here are five things you should know about the Canadiens-Bruins game at TD Garden Sunday (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio, 98.5 FM):
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The matchup: This is the second half of a back-to-back series for both teams but the Bruins will be a bit more rested because they played in New Jersey Saturday and cruised to a 5-2 win. The Canadiens were in Detroit, where they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Red Wings. They also lost goaltender Jake Allen after Detroit’s Dylan Larkin was pushed into the crease late in the first period. The Canadiens have earned points in their last three games with a win and two overtime losses.
Who’s in goal? That question takes on added significance because coach Dominique Ducharme won’t be tempted to play Allen in back-to-back games. His choice will be between Samuel Montembeault who played well in Detroit Saturday after giving up goals on the first two shots he faced, and Cayden Primeau, who was recalled from the Laval Rocket after playing Saturday afternoon. Primeau appeared in four NHL games last season. He has a 4-4-0 record in the AHL with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. Linus Ullmark is expected to get the start for Boston after Jeremy Swayman played in New Jersey.
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Firing blanks: Some of the players the Canadiens are counting on for offence haven’t been delivering — and they haven’t done much on defence either. Christian Dvorak can win faceoffs at a 54-per-cent clip but he has only two assists in his last 10 games and is minus-14 over that stretch. Mike Hoffman has gone six games without a goal and is minus-8. Speaking of minus players, defenceman David Savard was on the ice for both Detroit goals in regulation Saturday and he is minus-8 for the season. Don’t be surprised if he loses his spot in the top four when Joel Edmundson is healthy.
Marchand on a roll: Brad Marchand led the Bruins wth two goals Saturday to extend his points streak to six games. Marchand has matured and, at 33, he’s not the obnoxious agitator he was in his youth. He’s the Bruins’ leading scorer with eight goals and 18 points. Patrice Bergevin, a perennial candidate for the Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL, had a goal and an assist in New Jersey and has six goals and 13 points, while David Pastrnak has four goals and 12 points. Defenceman Charlie McAvoy has a goal and nine assists after picking up three assists Saturday.
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By the numbers: A quick glance at the standings shows the Canadiens are only four points behind Boston in the Atlantic Division but the Bruins have four games in hand. While the Canadiens have made some strides lately, they must win 42 of the remaining 66 games to have a realistic shot at a playoff berth. There are no numbers that indicate the Canadiens are a playoff team. While the Canadiens’ penalty kill hasn’t allowed a goal in five of the past six games, the PK ranks 29th in the league while the power play checks in at 27th. The Canadiens are 19th in shots per game but 31st in goals per game. Montreal averages 2.13 goals a game and gives up 3.31. The only teams with a larger deficit are Chicago and Arizona.
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins: Five things you should know - Montreal Gazette
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