Bruins coach Marco Sturm knew that Tuesday’s 6-2 loss at the Dallas Stars could be a good thing if his team could learn from the playoff style that the opposition played. Two nights later, Boston did just that, racing out to a 4-0 lead and holding on to beat another Western Conference playoff frontrunner in the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3.
“I think we just had the right attitude,” Sturm said. “We touched on a few things from the Dallas game. We just didn’t like the game, how it went and how it turned out. I think guys just showed up (Thursday), and they wanted to prove anyone wrong that that’s not our game.”
Get Starting Point
The path to the latest home win was impressive. Boston started the scoring with three goals in 54 seconds — including two during a four-minute power play — but it had to dig very deep to close the game as Vegas rallied with three goals in the third period.
Here’s the preview:
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NESN, NHL Network, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -115. O/U: 6.5.
CANADIENS
Season record: 28-16-7. vs. spread: 28-23. Over/under: 31-18, 2 pushes
Last 10 games: 6-3-1. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 6-4
BRUINS
Season record: 29-20-2. vs. spread: 34-17. Over/under: 28-22, 1 push
Last 10 games: 8-2-0. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-4, 1 push
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: Montreal 172, Boston 168
Goals allowed: Montreal 167, Boston 158
Power play: Montreal 23.0%, Boston 26.4%
Penalty minutes: Montreal 541, Boston 686
Penalty kill: Montreal 77.7%, Boston 78.1%
Faceoffs won: Montreal 50.2%, Boston 51.8%
Stat of the day: The Bruins have won six straight at home, and their 18 total home victories are tied for the second most in the NHL this season.
Notes: David Pastrnak led the Bruins with a goal and two assists on Thursday, marking his seventh game with three or more points this season. … The Canadiens are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games but look to bounce back from a 4-2 loss Thursday to the Buffalo Sabres. Sam Montembeault allowed three goals on the first nine shots he faced, putting Montreal in a 3-0 hole that it narrowed to 3-2 after two periods. … Cole Caufield scored for a fourth straight game, and Nick Suzuki moved his point streak to four games with a goal and an assist against Buffalo. … The Canadiens are one of the NHL’s best road teams (14-5-6) and already beat the host Bruins 6-2 on Dec. 23. … Former Boston College goaltender Jacob Fowler made 26 saves last month in Boston, but the rookie has won just one of his five outings since (1-3-1).
Cam Kerry can be reached at [email protected].
