Bruins-Canadiens Rivalry Renews Tonight

Mar 12, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) celebrates with Reilly Smith (18), Patrice Bergeron (37), Andrej Meszaros (41), and Brad Marchand (63) after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins-Habs Battle at the TD Garden

This late in the season, you wouldn’t think to find any NHL team surging at the top of the standings on a twelve-game winning streak. The Boston Bruins are that team, truly going beyond their own high expectations.

The last time the Bruins won more than twelve game was during the Art Ross era in 1929-30–a 13-game streak.

Tonight, the Bruins have the occasion to tie that record at the Garden with a win over their heated rival, the Montreal Canadiens. These two squads last met on Mar. 12, and the Bruins snatched victory, 4-1, on the heels of Tuukka Rask‘s 36 saves.

It’s hard to imagine the Bruins surrendering a defeat to the Habs after the B’s displayed their late-game heroics once more against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Down 2-1 in the third period, the B’s spurred a comeback, netting three consecutive goals, including an empty-netter, to overwhelm the Coyotes 4-2.

"”We needed to show a lot of character there in the third to come back and we did,” Claude Julien said according to Yahoo! Sports. “We did all the right things and we were determined to win and it showed.”"

The Bruins currently hold the best goal differential in the NHL, +78, which is 10 greater than the St. Louis Blues.  This massive differential largely comes from Boston’s ability to outscore opponents in the game’s final twenty minutes, as shown in the Phoenix contest.

Price May Appear in Net, Iginla on Fire

For the Canadiens, Carey Price may start at goalie after not being capable of performing in Montreal’s last matchup vs. the Bruins due to injury. Price hasn’t played his best as of late, allowing 13 goals in four games since returning to the ice.

The Canadiens have still managed to pull off a 3-1 record in recent matches, and as always, when goal scorer Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty prowl the rink, the Bruins’ defense have to stay on their toes.

If Boston sustains offensive assaults, though, bombarding Price and maintaining long offensive possessions in Montreal’s end, the B’s could very well put several goals on the board. As a whole, the Bruins have displayed excellent line depth at almost every position, a quality which has truly drove this spectacular winning run.

So, at this point, it’s a matter of staying hungry despite colossal success.

Look out for winger Jarome Iginla, who has been lights out in March, leading the NHL in goals (11) this month and tallying an amazing seven goals in his last five competitions. He’s really had his sights set on net.

Prediction: Bruins 3, Canadiens 2