Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien gestures as he calls in a play during hockey practice in Wilmington, Mass. on Tuesday. The Bruins will face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the NHL playoffs. (Charles Krupa/Associated Press)
Special teams key to series
During the six-game regular-season series, the Canadiens went 9 for 28 on the power play. With that in mind, the Canadiens will do their best to goad the heavier, more physical Bruins into taking penalties.
When the Canadiens go on the power play, the offence will go through Mike Cammalleri. The left-shot sniper usually sets up on the right-side half-wall. Cammalleri will look for shots or distribute pucks up top, where James Wisniewski and P.K. Subban will be setting up for one-timers. Subban scored nine power-play goals during the regular season to lead the Canadiens. Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, and Max Pacioretty had seven apiece.
But the Bruins understand they will have to stay disciplined against the smaller Canadiens.
"This is a team we're playing that's been good on the power play," said Claude Julien. "They've had success. We've got to stay out of the box the best we can. When we are going to spend time in the penalty box, our penalty kill is going to have to be good. Special teams always play a big role in the playoffs."
Pacioretty unavailable
While Pacioretty has been skating on his own, the left wing has not been cleared for practice or game play. Pacioretty, however, accepted a phone call recently from Zdeno Chara regarding the March 8 incident that left the Montreal forward with a fractured vertebrae and a severe concussion. Chara did not elaborate on the nature of the conversation.
The Bruins have informed Chara that he will not be subject to questioning from Montreal authorities upon arrival north of the border prior to Game 3. The investigation into the incident remains open.
"It's been like that for years," Chara said of the booing he's endured before at the Bell Centre. "It's not going to be any different. We all have to just focus on the game."
Canadiens banged up, Bruins healthy
On the back end, the Canadiens will be without Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges. The puck-moving Markov and the stay-at-home Gorges, both out with knee injuries, were among the Montreal's top-four crew when healthy. The Canadiens will also be down Pacioretty and Jeff Halpern, although the veteran center participated in non-contact practice with his teammates today prior to the team's departure for Boston. Halpern is doubtful for Game 1.
Conversely, aside from the nearly season-long absence of Marc Savard, the Bruins are healthy. The only injured player is depth defenseman Steven Kampfer, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Providence, Boston's AHL club, last Saturday. Kampfer would have been the team's No. 8 defenceman behind Shane Hnidy.
Seguin to be healthy scratch
Julien didn't tip his hand on his lineup for Game 1. But rookie Tyler Seguin will most likely be the odd man out up front. Seguin was the extra wing on the No. 3 line in the last two practices alongside Chris Kelly, Rich Peverley, and Michael Ryder.
Seguin scored 11 goals and 11 assists in 74 games. Seguin averaged 12:12 of ice time per game.
"I'm relatively satisfied with his development," GM Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call on Monday. "You have to put it in context with his age. You have to put it in context that he's an individual who's seen that he has to grow in certain areas on and off the ice. He's a real good kid. My guess is that he won't start in the lineup for the playoffs. I hope he finds his way into it. The play is going to ramp up in the playoffs. Had he gone back to junior, the areas where he had to better at would have been left dormant. He had to play this year and face those areas head on."
Schedule not ideal
Concerts at the Bell Centre (Rush next Wednesday, Lady Gaga on Monday, April 25) prompted the NHL to propose an unusual schedule for the first round. Between Games 3 and 4, there are two off-days instead of the usual one. There are also two off-days between Games 5 and 6. Games 6 and 7 are on consecutive nights.
Instead of staying in Montreal between Games 3 and 4, the Bruins will practice in Lake Placid, N.Y., next Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's a good area just to get some practice time," said Julien. "That was the decision in us going there. There was no use in us staying longer than we had to [in Montreal].
Expected Montreal lineup
Mike Cammalleri-Tomas Plekanec-Andrei Kostitsyn
Mathieu Darche-Scott Gomez-Brian Gionta
Travis Moen-Lars Eller-Tom Pyatt
Benoit Pouliot-David Desharnais-Ryan White
Roman Hamrlik-James Wisniewski
Hal Gill-P.K. Subban
Jaroslav Spacek-Brent Sopel
Carey Price
Alex Auld
Expected Boston lineup
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Chris Kelly-Rich Peverley-Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Tomas Kaberle-Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
During the six-game regular-season series, the Canadiens went 9 for 28 on the power play. With that in mind, the Canadiens will do their best to goad the heavier, more physical Bruins into taking penalties.
When the Canadiens go on the power play, the offence will go through Mike Cammalleri. The left-shot sniper usually sets up on the right-side half-wall. Cammalleri will look for shots or distribute pucks up top, where James Wisniewski and P.K. Subban will be setting up for one-timers. Subban scored nine power-play goals during the regular season to lead the Canadiens. Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, and Max Pacioretty had seven apiece.
But the Bruins understand they will have to stay disciplined against the smaller Canadiens.
"This is a team we're playing that's been good on the power play," said Claude Julien. "They've had success. We've got to stay out of the box the best we can. When we are going to spend time in the penalty box, our penalty kill is going to have to be good. Special teams always play a big role in the playoffs."
Pacioretty unavailable
While Pacioretty has been skating on his own, the left wing has not been cleared for practice or game play. Pacioretty, however, accepted a phone call recently from Zdeno Chara regarding the March 8 incident that left the Montreal forward with a fractured vertebrae and a severe concussion. Chara did not elaborate on the nature of the conversation.
The Bruins have informed Chara that he will not be subject to questioning from Montreal authorities upon arrival north of the border prior to Game 3. The investigation into the incident remains open.
"It's been like that for years," Chara said of the booing he's endured before at the Bell Centre. "It's not going to be any different. We all have to just focus on the game."
Canadiens banged up, Bruins healthy
On the back end, the Canadiens will be without Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges. The puck-moving Markov and the stay-at-home Gorges, both out with knee injuries, were among the Montreal's top-four crew when healthy. The Canadiens will also be down Pacioretty and Jeff Halpern, although the veteran center participated in non-contact practice with his teammates today prior to the team's departure for Boston. Halpern is doubtful for Game 1.
Conversely, aside from the nearly season-long absence of Marc Savard, the Bruins are healthy. The only injured player is depth defenseman Steven Kampfer, who suffered a knee injury while playing for Providence, Boston's AHL club, last Saturday. Kampfer would have been the team's No. 8 defenceman behind Shane Hnidy.
Seguin to be healthy scratch
Julien didn't tip his hand on his lineup for Game 1. But rookie Tyler Seguin will most likely be the odd man out up front. Seguin was the extra wing on the No. 3 line in the last two practices alongside Chris Kelly, Rich Peverley, and Michael Ryder.
Seguin scored 11 goals and 11 assists in 74 games. Seguin averaged 12:12 of ice time per game.
"I'm relatively satisfied with his development," GM Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call on Monday. "You have to put it in context with his age. You have to put it in context that he's an individual who's seen that he has to grow in certain areas on and off the ice. He's a real good kid. My guess is that he won't start in the lineup for the playoffs. I hope he finds his way into it. The play is going to ramp up in the playoffs. Had he gone back to junior, the areas where he had to better at would have been left dormant. He had to play this year and face those areas head on."
Schedule not ideal
Concerts at the Bell Centre (Rush next Wednesday, Lady Gaga on Monday, April 25) prompted the NHL to propose an unusual schedule for the first round. Between Games 3 and 4, there are two off-days instead of the usual one. There are also two off-days between Games 5 and 6. Games 6 and 7 are on consecutive nights.
Instead of staying in Montreal between Games 3 and 4, the Bruins will practice in Lake Placid, N.Y., next Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It's a good area just to get some practice time," said Julien. "That was the decision in us going there. There was no use in us staying longer than we had to [in Montreal].
Expected Montreal lineup
Mike Cammalleri-Tomas Plekanec-Andrei Kostitsyn
Mathieu Darche-Scott Gomez-Brian Gionta
Travis Moen-Lars Eller-Tom Pyatt
Benoit Pouliot-David Desharnais-Ryan White
Roman Hamrlik-James Wisniewski
Hal Gill-P.K. Subban
Jaroslav Spacek-Brent Sopel
Carey Price
Alex Auld
Expected Boston lineup
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Chris Kelly-Rich Peverley-Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Tomas Kaberle-Dennis Seidenberg
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
