BOSTON – It is Festivus, and the Boston Bruins (20-16-1) are on home ice tonight for the final time of the calendar year. The Bruins, who have lost their last three, will play host to their longtime rivals, the Montreal Canadiens (19-12-5). The last time Montreal visited Boston, the Bruins celebrated their Centennial Game, marking 100 years since the franchise’s first game. Boston has an 8-1-1 record in their last ten games against Montreal, including a 3-2 win on November 15.

The Boston Bruins have been highlighted by Morgan Geekie (25-14–39) and David Pastrnak (14-25–39) all season, and Pavel Zacha (10-16–26) is on a four-game point streak. Charlie McAvoy scored his first of the season on Sunday night; he is on a three-game point streak.

Montreal sits one spot ahead of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division. They have been led by Nick Suzuki (10-30–40) and Cole Caufield (18-17–35) on offense, and BU Terrier Lane Hutson (5-27–32) has been producing offense from the blue line. On Friday night, Montreal acquired Phillip Danault, and he will make his return to the Canadiens’ lineup tonight.

On offense, the Canadiens and Bruins are both scoring an average of 3.19 goals per game.

Bruins Morning Skate Notes

Vladislav Kolyachonok will make his Boston Bruins debut tonight. He was acquired off the waiver wire last Tuesday. On what he is looking for out of the Belarusian defenseman, Marco Sturm said, “I just want him to be himself. I want him to defend well.” He also noted that Kolyachonok can be “a pain in the butt to play against” and included that in his message to him.

Viktor Arvidsson practiced today and skated with the second line. Marco Sturm called him a “game-time decision” for tonight’s contest. The Bruins are trying to proceed with caution, as Sturm noted that they played him too soon the last time he was injured.

Jeremy Swayman will get the start tonight, marking his sixth straight appearance in the Bruins’ net. Swayman stopped 26 shots in a 3-2 win during the Bruins’ first meeting with the Canadiens. In his last five appearances, which have all been consecutive, he is 1-2-1 with a 3.27 goals against average and an .865 save percentage.

The Bruins could not hold on when the Senators came out flying on Sunday night. This game is significant to the Bruins: it is the last game before the holiday break, it is against the Montreal Canadiens, and the team is looking for a bounce-back performance to get back into the win column.

“My guys will be ready today. That’s all I can say,” Marco Sturm said after the morning skate. “I can’t tell you that we’re gonna win the game, but I will tell you those guys will be ready.”

Expected Bruins Lines
Forwards

Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak

Casey Mittelstadt – Pavel Zacha – Viktor Arvidsson

Tanner Jeannot – Fraser Minten – Mark Kastelic

Alex Steeves – Sean Kuraly – Marat Khusnutdinov

Defensemen

Nikita Zadorov – Charlie McAvoy

Hampus Lindholm – Andrew Peeke

Vladislav Kolyachonok – Mason Lohrei

Source: Scott McLaughlin, WEEI

Starting Goalie

Jeremy Swayman (14-9-1, 2.78 GAA, .906 SV%)

Source: Marco Sturm

Expected Canadiens Lines
Forwards

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Zac Bolduc

Juraj Slafkovsky – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault – Josh Anderson

Sammy Blais – Joe Veleno – Owen Beck

Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher were not participants in the morning skate. Per Patrick Friolet of RDS, Martin St. Louis is refraining from confirming any line changes due to a small virus going around the room.

Defensemen

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Lane Hutson – Adam Engstrom

Arber Xhekaj – Alexandre Carrier

Source: Montreal Canadiens

Starting Goalie

Jacob Fowler (2-1-1, 2.49 GAA, .915 SV%)

Source: Montreal Canadiens

Special Teams

The Bruins’ power play (25.7%) has remained a strength, though it has fallen in the league rankings. The B’s power play has connected six times over the last six games. David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie each have seven power play goals this year. On the other end of the ice, the Bruins’ penalty kill (79.6%) has allowed nine goals over the last seven games. December 6 was the most recent game where the Bruins had a perfect showing on the penalty kill.

Montreal is in a similar boat, with a strong power play (25.8%) and a weaker penalty kill (77.6%). The Canadiens are one of nine teams to have under 100 power play opportunities this season (97), but they have converted on 25 of those opportunities. Nick Suzuki has 19 power play points this season. The Canadiens have been shorthanded 116 times, the seventh-most in the league. That is 21 fewer times than the Bruins (137), who rank first.

Season Series

Saturday, November 15: @ MTL – Bruins win 3-2

Tuesday, December 23: Canadiens @ Bruins

Saturday, January 24: Canadiens @ Bruins

Tuesday, March 17: Bruins @ Canadiens

Upcoming Schedule

Saturday, December 27: Bruins @ Sabres

Monday, December 29: Bruins @ Flames

Wednesday, December 31: Bruins @ Oilers

Saturday, January 3: Bruins @ Canucks

Tuesday, January 6: Bruins @ Kraken

How to Watch

7:00 PM ET

TV: NESN

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub