Final, Canadiens 2-1: The Bruins appeared to be given a gift with their net empty after the Canadiens iced the puck.
However, they couldn’t do anything with it following a mad scramble in the final seconds and the Canadiens hang on to win it.
Third period, 18:00, Canadiens 2-1: Carey Price continues to stand on his head here in the third period.
Another strong shift from the first line led to a chance for Torey Krug from the right faceoff circle, but Price made the save and controlled the rebound, adding to the Bruins’ frustrations.
Third period, 14:12, Canadiens 2-1:Â The Bruins came this close to tying the game here in the third period as part of a relentless siege that has left the Canadiens running around in their own end.
The B’s got arguably their best chance of the evening when Jarome Iginla made somewhat of a shot-pass from the right point with Milan Lucic barreling toward the net. Carey Price somehow made the save on the deflection attempt from the streaking Lucic, but Price ended up having no idea where the puck went. Luckily for him and the Habs, the puck was underneath Price.
Third period, 10:06, Canadiens 2-1: Montreal played last night in New Jersey, and the Canadiens are in the final of a stretch of three games in four days.
It’s starting to show.
The ice has been extremely tilted in favor of the Bruins through the first half of the third period, and the B’s are just peppering Carey Price. Thing is, Price is the member of the Habs who didn’t play against the Devils. He’s been up to the task here in the third period, as he’s stopped all 10 shots he’s faced.
Third period, 6:36, Canadiens 2-1: If the Bruins are going to tie it up, it might be because of the second line, which is saying a lot given how the first two periods went.
The second line didn’t have a shot on goal in the first 40 minutes, but they have turned in a pair of solid shifts here in the second period, which have included a pair of shots from Patrice Bergeron.
Third period, 2:00, Canadiens 2-1: The Bruins got the first real good scoring chance of the period and it came off the stick of Reilly Smith.
Smith got just enough space entering the zone to cock back and fire a wrist shot frm the high slot that Carey Price tried to glove, but the Montreal goalie couldn’t hold on. The puck eventually bounced away, but no Bruins were able to get there for a second chance.
Third period, 0:01, Canadiens 2-1: The third period is underway with the Bruins looking to come from behind as they open the period down 2-1.
End second period, Canadiens 2-1: The Canadiens didn’t slow down in the final couple of minutes and brought the pressure all the way until the horn.
The Bruins were able to escape down one goal. Montreal outshot the Bruins 17-7 in the second period after the B’s outshot the Habs 10-3 in the first.
Second period, 17:42, Canadiens 2-1: The Canadiens have their first lead of the game.
Things got dicey in front of the Boston net with bodies flying and rebound squirting through the slot. That’s where Max Pacioretty jumped on the loose puck and put a backhander by Tuukka Rask who was flailing a bit just outside of the crease.
The Bruins, who have made it a pretty nasty habit of giving up goals late in the period, have given up another and may head to the dressing room down a goal.
Second period, 15:00, 1-1: Once again, the Bruins’ penalty kill comes up big.
Boston has killed all four penalties in this one, and No. 4 was impressive. They’ve been really aggressive and have been able to take away the Canadiens’ chances. Montreal only has six shots on goal during its four power-play chances.
Second period, 12:23, 1-1: It looked as if Chris Kelly made a nice play to steal a puck in the Montreal end.
However, the referees said he used a little too much stick in the process. Kelly was just called for hooking, and the Bruins will have to kill off yet another penalty.
Second period, 10:18, 1-1: You knew it was coming, it was only a matter of time.
The Canadiens are a bigger, stronger team, and they’re not afraid to drop the mitts. Brandon Prust just took on Shawn Thornton here in the second period as the two of them dropped the gloves at center ice.
Both were at the end of a shift, but it was still a pretty lengthy bout with not a ton of punches being landed — or even thrown.
Second period, 9:16, 1-1: The Canadiens have been buzzing, and it finally pays off for them.
Tomas Plekanec just scored from a pretty wicked angle in right faceoff circle. He looked as if he might pass it across the slot, but he instead quickly snapped a shot up over Tuukka Rask’s glove shortside from Rask’s left.
Second period, 6:01, Bruins 1-0:Â The physical play is starting to pick up a little bit, and it picked up in a big way just a few moments ago.
Gregory Campbell was caught with his head down in the Montreal slot, and Lars Eller ended up leveling the Bruins center with a big hit.
Also, in regards to Johnny Boychuk. The Bruins released this statement just a few minutes ago.
“Johnny Boychuk has been taken to Montreal General Hospital for observation, after being injured in Thursday’s game against the Canadiens. Before he was transported to the hospital, he was able to demonstrate movement in all of his extremities. We will provide a further update when it is appropriate.”
Second period, 3:36, Bruins 1-0: The Canadiens are now 0-for-3 on the power play, but that power play looked much better.
The Canadiens put a few shots on goal during that power play which saw plenty of Montreal puck possession in the Boston end.
Second period, 1:26, Bruins 1-0: The Bruins just had some issues in their own zone, and they’ll end up attempting to kill another penalty.
It all started when Dougie Hamilton slipped and fell trying to skate the puck away form the front of the net. Luckily for the Bruins, Tuukka Rask tipped the puck to the corner. However, Zdeno Chara eventually had the puck stolen, and Tomas Plekanec ended up with the puck in the slot and Hamilton had to trip him.
Hamilton is in the box for two for tripping.
Second period, 0:01, Bruins 1-0: The second period is underway with the Bruins trying to add to their 1-0 lead.
End first period, Bruins 1-0: All things considered, the Bruins will be happy to come away with the lead after one, but the focus is still on Johnny Boychuk.
NESN’s Jamie Erdahl reported that Boychuk is on his way to the hospital, so we’ll see what comes of it.
First period, 17:35, Bruins 1-0: It’s been kind of a sleepy first period, but the Bruins have awaken.
Gregory Campbell and Milan Lucic just worked the 2-on-1 to perfection, and Campbell ended up scoring the game’s first goal. He took an absolutely gorgeous backhanded pass from Lucic and buried it by Carey Price.
First period, 17:00, 0-0: The Bruins have been stingy on the penalty kill, and that has kept the potentially potent Montreal power play at bay through two chances.
The B’s just held the Habs shotless on their second power play of the evening, as both teams are now 0-for-2 on the power play.
First period, 14:43, 0-0: Montreal is getting another chance on the power play.
Carl Soderberg was just called for high sticking, and he’ll sit for two minutes as Montreal gets another crack up a man.
First period, 13:00, 0-0: The Bruins weren’t able to score on the power play, with their best chance coming from Zdeno Chara.
The Bruins defenseman unloaded a one-timer from the right faceoff circle, but he put it right on Carey Price, and the Montreal goalie made a relatively “easy” save to keep the game scoreless.
By the way, if you’re looking for “footage” of the Johnny Boychuk hit, you can find a GIF by clicking here.
First period, 10:25, 0-0:Â It’s been a busy first period for the referees.
The Bruins are going back on the power play after Brendan Gallagher was just called for tripping after getting his stick caught in Chris Kelly’s skates.
First period, 9:00, 0-0: The two teams have now traded unsuccessful power plays.
The Canadiens couldn’t do anything with Matt Bartkowski in the box, with the best chance coming from Andrei Markov. The Montreal defenseman walked in down the left wing and appeared to have a wide open five-hole. He took a slap shot, but Tuukka Rask quickly closed the pads and made the save.
First period, 6:45, 0-0: The Bruins weren’t able to score on the power play, and 17 seconds after their man-advantage expired, the Canadiens were given a power play of their own.
Matt Bartkowski was just called for interference, and the Habs get their first man-advantage.
First period, 4:29, 0-0: After a lengthy 10-minute delay to stretcher Johnny Boychuk off the ice, play is back on in Montreal.
Again, we’ll pass along any Boychuk news as soon as we get it.
First period, 4:28, 0-0: The Bruins will get the game’s first power play.
Max Pacioretty was called for boarding after he drove Johnny Boychuk into the end boards. Boychuk was slow to get up to his knees even when the training staff came out onto the ice.
Boychuk was on his hands and knees and he looked to be struggling to catch his breath or something like that — it almost looked like he was dry heaving. It was a scary-looking hit to say the least.
He was eventually put on the stretcher and had his head and neck stabilized before he was wheeled off to polite applause from the Bell Centre crowd.
We’ll let you know if we get any information about Boychuk.
First period, 0:01, 0-0: This year’s first installment of one of the game’s best rivalries is underway.
7:30 p.m.: Torey Krug will be in the Bruins’ lineup for this one. If there was any doubt of that happening, it was very little, and Krug is officially in.
Matt Bartkowski is also officially in. He’s back in the lineup in place of Adam McQuaid, which means that Kevan Miller will be the healthy scratch on the Bruins blue line.
7 p.m.: Tuukka Rask will get the start in net for the Bruins, while Carey Price is getting the nod for the Canadiens. Not much surprise there. Rask and the Bruins are well-rested, and Peter Budaj started for the Habs on Wednesday night in New Jersey.
6:20 p.m.:Â The Canadiens come into this one as a different team than the Bruins saw a year ago and really, they’re a different team than the Bruins are used to seeing over the last few years or so.
The Habs, likely somewhat influenced by the Bruins’ recent success, have gotten much tougher. It all seemed to start last year when they signed former Rangers forward Brandon Prust in July of 2012. Prust’s hard-working game, which includes an ability to drop the gloves at a moment’s notice, instantly made the Habs a tougher team.
The change in philosophy carried over, too. Montreal added noted brawler George Parros in a trade this past July. Parros has only appeared in six games entering Thursday’s game, and he already has 37 penalty minutes. He’s spent more time in the penalty box than he has on the ice. Does that alone make a team better? No, of course not. Parros is a minus-5 this season, which obviously indicates he and his linemates are liabilities on the ice. What the addition of a player like Parros does, though, is it gives the Canadiens an added element. It makes it more difficult for a team like the Bruins to push them around. It adds protection for high-end offensive players. It changes the culture and the way they play the game, which could lead to long-term success. So far, so good, as they’re among the league’s top teams in the early going.
3:20 p.m.:Â We’re about four hours from puck drop, where the Bruins are expected to have defenseman Torey Krug in the lineup.
Krug, of course, made the trip to Montreal after missing practice Tuesday (he practiced Wednesday), and Claude Julien told reporters after morning skate that he’d be “extremely surprised” if the rookie D-man doesn’t play in this one.
The Bruins will be without Adam McQuaid, though. The defenseman didn’t even travel with the club to Montreal after missing practice this week. He re-aggravated a groin injury at some point (it’s unclear when) and is out indefinitely.
It’s unclear who will be in the Bruins lineup in McQuaid’s place. Kevan Miller was recalled earlier in the week from Providence after making his NHL debut a few weeks ago. The Bruins could also turn to Matt Bartkowski, who filled in for McQuaid when he missed eight games with the groin injury the first time around.
The Bruins didn’t offer any hints at morning skate, as they rotated Torey Krug in with Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boyhcuk.
10:30 a.m.: The Bruins have played 27 games in their 2013-14 schedule. Christmas is less than three weeks away. The new year is just around the corner. And finally, the B’s will take on the Canadiens for the first time this season.
The Bruins and Habs will play their first of four games against each other this season on Thursday night in Montreal. The two bitter rivals have been kept apart all season, but they will finally get after each other Thursday night at Bell Centre. When they do, it will be a meeting of two of the Eastern Conference’s top teams this season. Just two points seperate the two clubs in the Atlantic Division with Boston holding two games in hand at the moment.
Depsite a slow start to the season, Montreal has turned it on recently. The Habs have won three in a row — including a win in New Jersey on Wednesday night — and they have now won eight of 10 games with one of those losses coming in overtime. Montreal has gained at least a point in 11 of its last 12 games.
Boston, meanwhile, comes in rested. The Bruins have won two in a row and seven of their last 10, but most of that work has come at home. Starting with the Montreal game on Thursday, the B’s will play 11 of their next 16 games away from TD Garden.
Puck drop from Bell Centre is slated for 7:30 p.m.
