The bruins – canadiens meeting in Montreal is the final regular-season clash between the rivals and arrives with Boston making confirmed lineup and goaltending changes ahead of a 7: 00 pm ET puck drop. Jeremy Swayman will start in net for Boston as the Bruins close out their road trip.
Bruins – Canadiens: What’s At Stake
Montreal sits third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points while Boston occupies the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and trails the Canadiens by one point. The matchup is the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the clubs; the Bruins have won two of the previous three games. Head coach Marco Sturm framed the game as important for Boston’s playoff positioning and said the group is handling the moment without panic.
Boston’s Confirmed Lineup Changes And Start
Boston is skating the second game of a back-to-back after a 4-3 overtime loss to New Jersey on Monday at Prudential Center. Jeremy Swayman will be in net for Tuesday in Montreal; Joonas Korpisalo had started against the Devils the night before.
Coach Marco Sturm confirmed several lineup adjustments for the trip’s final game: Mikey Eyssimont returns to the third line in place of Alex Steeves, and Andrew Peeke returns to the lineup on the third defensive pair with Nikita Zadorov while Henri Jokiharju is scratched. Peeke is also noted as celebrating his 28th birthday.
Boston’s confirmed forward group for the matchup is listed as:
- Marat Khusnutdinov – Fraser Minten – David Pastrnak
- Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson
- Mikey Eyssimont – Elias Lindholm – Morgan Geekie
- Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic
Game Dynamics To Watch
The bruins – canadiens pairing carries an added edge given the divisional implications and the proximity of the standings. Boston faces the challenge of recovering from an overtime defeat while playing the second night of a back-to-back, and Sturm emphasized the need for his team to be sharp from the opening whistle after a night of heavy minutes.
The 7: 00 pm ET puck drop in Montreal will determine the immediate gap in the standings and complete the regular-season head-to-head slate between the rivals. Expect attention on Boston’s start, Swayman’s performance after Korpisalo’s start the night before, and how the lineup tweaks influence the third line and defensive pairings early in the game.
Following this contest, the Bruins will have a clearer picture of their position relative to Montreal in the divisional race as the regular season winds down.
