Jake Evans appears to be like able to return, and Jake Allen will get the beginning in purpose.
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Contemporary off the heels of defeating Tampa Bay, final season’s Stanley Cup finalists, Tuesday evening at residence, the Canadiens now face the unenviable problem of taking part in a group many take into account this season’s favourites to seize their first championship since 2011: the Boston Bruins.
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The groups meet Thursday evening (7 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio 690, 98.5 FM) at TD Backyard. And, though his membership has had a demanding schedule of late, dealing with groups just like the New York Rangers, New Jersey, Colorado, Pittsburgh and the Lightning twice inside 4 days, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis is embracing the duty. Whereas he realizes his group gained’t make the playoffs, they continue to be aggressive regardless of being ravaged by accidents, compelled to make use of a depleted lineup.
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“They’re so organized and are on the identical web page,” St. Louis stated of the Bruins following a short 45-minute observe on Wednesday on the Bell Sports activities Complicated. “We haven’t been intimidated by the opponents. I believe we respect (Boston) however we’re not afraid of them and we’ve proven that.
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“Some video games have gone higher than others, however general I’m actually pleased with our strategy … the onerous schedule that we’ve had. Couple bounces right here and there, we would have gotten higher outcomes. However general, I really like the expansion of our group via that stretch. Now we’re beginning to get (injured) guys again. I believe that helps the group. When you could have a stretch of video games like that in opposition to actually robust opponents, you need to be in your toes. You need to be good, related. The problem is more durable and also you develop from it, whether or not you win or lose. We seemed fairly good for many of these video games. I’m happy with that.”
Whereas the Canadiens failed to supply an replace on winger Josh Anderson, who suffered an obvious ankle harm late in Tuesday’s recreation, it seems centre Jake Evans is able to return. He hasn’t performed since mid January as a consequence of a knee harm. However on Wednesday, he was practising between Rem Pitlick and Brendan Gallagher. St. Louis stated Evans’s return is a risk. Jesse Ylönen, who was sick on Tuesday and didn’t play, was on the ice Wednesday however with out linemates.
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The Bruins (54-11-5) are first within the Atlantic Division, using a four-game profitable streak, grew to become the primary NHL group to clinch a playoff berth and have a plus-115 purpose differential. With 12 video games remaining, Boston is eight victories shy of matching the league file for wins in a season — 62 — shared by Detroit and Tampa Bay.
The groups are assembly for the second time this season. The Bruins gained 4-2 on the Bell Centre on Jan. 24. The groups additionally conclude the common season April 13 in Montreal.
Though Sam Montembeault was sensible on Tuesday in opposition to the Lightning, stopping 31 photographs in Montreal’s 3-2 victory, St. Louis stated Jake Allen will begin in opposition to Boston.
“It’s going to be a giant check, however the guys performed tremendous properly the final two video games in opposition to one other actually good group,” Allen stated. “They’re (Tampa Bay) most likely the perfect group within the league the final three or 4 years. And the Bruins, they’re rolling. They’ve all their engines rolling. We’re going to need to be prepared and it’s going to be a superb check.
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“I believe we should always take pleasure in it, embrace it and see what occurs.”
Regardless of Allen’s pedestrian 3.56 goals-against common and .892 save share in 40 video games, he has performed solidly most nights behind a makeshift roster peppered with minor leaguers. He has, nonetheless, endured a tough stretch of late, permitting six objectives on 15 photographs in opposition to the Avalanche earlier than being changed. Then, final Thursday after changing Montembeault at Florida, he allowed one other six objectives on 18 photographs in lower than 22 minutes. At that time, one other goaltending change was made.
“There’s nothing completely different for me,” Allen stated. “I believe I put together the identical method on a regular basis. My preparation has been a part of my success over the past three or 4 years. Nothing adjustments for me. I’m not superstitious a lot.”
Coincidentally, Kirby Dach scored each Canadiens’ objectives the final time they confronted Boston. His return on Tuesday after lacking 16 video games with a lower-body harm — mixed with Gallagher’s presence for the primary time since early January — galvanized the group.
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