Bruins at Canadiens
The Boston Bruins attempt to defeat the Montreal Canadiens for the third time in eight days and extend their point streak to 16 games when they visit their Original Six rivals on Saturday. Boston edged the Canadiens in a shootout at Montreal last Saturday and rolled to a 4-1 home victory four nights later.
The Bruins followed that win with a 5-2 road triumph over the New York Islanders on Thursday to improve to 11-0-4 since falling in regulation to Washington on Dec. 14. Patrice Bergeron registered his third career hat trick in the victory over New York to increase his all-time goal total to 278 and move past Wayne Cashman for seventh place on the franchise list. Montreal scored twice in the third period on Friday and held on to post a 3-2 win at Washington, ending its five-game road losing streak. Captain Max Pacioretty scored two goals and set up the other as the Canadiens posted their first victory in four overall contests (1-1-2).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet, TVA (Montreal)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (26-10-8): Bergeron has recorded two hat tricks in his last six games, becoming the first Bruin to notch a pair in one season since Bill Guerin in 2002. The 32-year-old is second on the team with 19 tallies, collecting nine along with five assists over his last eight contests. Brad Marchand, who leads Boston in goals (20), assists (26) and points, has registered five tallies and nine assists over his last seven games - a span during which he was kept off the scoresheet just once.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (19-21-6): Logan Shaw made his debut for the team on Friday, blocking one shot while receiving 10 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time after being claimed off waivers from Anaheim four days earlier. The 25-year-old right wing recorded two goals and six assists in 42 games with the Ducks this season. Pacioretty has landed on the scoresheet in six of his last seven contests, notching six tallies and two assists in that span.
OVERTIME
1. Canadiens C Tomas Plekanec recorded an assist on Friday, ending his 10-game point drought while drawing him within two of 600 for his career.
2. Boston C Danton Heinen ranks fourth among all NHL rookies with 31 points.
3. Montreal D Jakub Jerabek set up a tally against Washington, giving him one goal and three assists during his three-game point streak.