Bruins at Canadiens
THE STORY: The Boston Bruins kick off a season-high six-game road trip Wednesday when they visit the Montreal Canadiens in a battle of Northeast Division rivals. Boston takes to the road searching for offense - it has lost four of its last six games, scoring a total of one goal in the setbacks. Montreal had its four-game winning streak snapped by Carolina on Monday. The Canadiens have lost three of their last five games in their own building but have won 23 of 33 meetings with the Bruins in Montreal.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE BRUINS (34-18-2): Defenseman Johnny Boychuk will be staying in Beantown for a while. Boychuk signed a three-year contract extension with a limited no-trade clause Tuesday, assuring he will be a Bruin through the 2014-15 season. "Johnny really wanted to stay here,” Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli said. "I think that’s the overriding theme." Boychuk has recorded three goals, seven assists and 42 penalty minutes in 52 games this season.
ABOUT THE CANADIENS (23-25-9): Tempers flared and emotions ran high at practice Tuesday as Scott Gomez got involved in an argument with assistant coach Randy Ladouceur. Gomez downplayed the exchange, stating he was in the wrong. "It happens all the time," Gomez said. "I wasn’t doing the drill properly, and I think this all just shows how passionate everyone is about winning right now. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last." Right wing Ian Schultz was denied the chance to make his NHL debut as he was a healthy scratch for Monday's game and sent back down to Hamilton of the AHL one day after being recalled.
OVERTIME:
1. Four of the previous five meetings between the teams this season have been decided by one goal, with Boston winning three.
2. The Bruins have won 16 of their last 21 games against division rivals.