Tonight’s bout with the Bruins will have more of an impact than the first for the Montreal Canadiens as it will be a special return for Claude Julien.
A player who is set to play their first game against a former team will always say it’s one they’ve looked forward to. It’s not always the same for coaches as they try to downplay it to be just another game, but this one is going to mean a lot for Claude Julien. We’re a few weeks shy of the one-year anniversary of his return to the Montreal Canadiens, but all the memories of his time with the Bruins must still be fresh in his mind.
Seeing the fans cheer for him and the tribute video will be nice, but as far as the on-ice play goes, there may be other things worth paying attention to. The Alex Galchenyuk – Jacob de La Rose – Jonathan Drouin line will be one of those things, assuming Julien is committed to the idea.
You have to think that this is de La Rose’s moment. He’s had short bursts of solid play, while other times it’s hard to notice him on the ice. I don’t think that the coaching staff is asking him to become an offensive dynamo with Galchenyuk and Drouin, however, if he can be a responsible option out there and provide time and space for them, it could work.
Max Pacioretty is another player to pay attention to as he’s currently riding a four-game goal streak. The 30-year-old has been a streaky player throughout his career, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see this continue. Montreal may also be running some new power play units which could keep the offence going for him, Galchenyuk, and Drouin who scored his first goal in 13 games against the New York Islanders.
#Habs power play:
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) January 16, 2018
Gallagher
Drouin - Pacioretty - Galchenyuk
Petry
Carr
Mete - Lehkonen - Hudon
Schlemko
Boston is coming off an overtime loss as well at the hands of the Dallas Stars. Although they sit second in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs are still close behind. If they hope to secure their position, they need to get points from teams unfortunately like the Habs.
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Fans should expect a pretty hard-fought match between the two teams. The Habs have been playing well as of late, but have fallen victim to giving their opponents chances to gain leads on them. The defence of picking up six out of a possible eight points doesn’t have too much of an impact as it would in the first half of the season.
The belief that the organization has for a late playoff push was already a tough sell when Marc Bergevin initially said it. They’ve managed to keep the slim chances afloat by picking up a point here and a point there, but if they lose this game, there’s nothing they can say to warrant any belief in the team finishing in the top 16.
Next: Pacioretty May Be the Better Target
What are your expectations for the game? Will de La Rose have a decent performance as Drouin and Galchenyuk’s center? Can Pacioretty make it five games in a row with a goal? Let us know what you think in the comments.