Faceoff Factor

Canadiens v Bruins: Game 2 Preview

Andrew Chiappazzi | National Hockey League

Apr 12, 12:01 AM | Hype this story!

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Canadiens (1) vs. Bruins (8) Game 2
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Series Score: Canadiens 1 – Bruins 0
Game Time: 7:00 EST
Location: Bell Centre (Montreal)
Television: Versus, RDS, CBC

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Preview
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Missing Saku Koivu apparently hasn’t dampened the Canadiens’ spirit. Well, when your goaltender only had to make 17 saves in game one, things look pretty good. Then again, shots don’t mean everything. Montreal’s play, though, certainly speaks well for Les Habitants. Sergei and Andrei Kostitsyn scored back to back goals to open Game 1, and even mucker/grinder Tom Kostopolous got a late goal as the Habs won 4-1.

Expect much of the same tonight in Game 2. The Bell Centre – really, any place in Canada – is a tremendously difficult place to get a win in if you’re a visiting team. Considering Montreal is so good offensively and on the power play, a defensive oriented team like Boston is going to have quite a few issues creating chances, especially with the crowd riding them at every turn.

Zdeno Chara and Dennis Wideman led the Bruins in ice time, no surprise considering how important they are to the B’s defensive corps. More disappointing and telling of how the Bruins are playing, from their style to their overall effectiveness, is the fact that Phil Kessel only had 12:39 TOI and 2 shots. Even Glen Murray and Marc Savard aren’t getting much more ice time, and if the Bruins are going to get anything going, they’ll need their stars on the ice.

Tim Thomas allowed 4 goals, but don’t expect to see Alex Auld. Thomas getting hot might be one of the only ways the Bruins can win the series.
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Injuries
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Boston: Bobby Allen (back spasms, day-to-day); Patrice Bergeron (concussion, day-to-day)
Montreal: Francis Bouillon (ankle, day-to-day); Mike Komisarek (hip, day-to-day); Saku Koivu (broken foot, out)