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NHL on NBCSN: Bruins-Canadiens tangle in Montreal on Rivalry Night

Boston Bruins v Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL, QC - DECEMBER 5: P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins mix it up during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on December 5, 2013 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Bruins 2-1. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Richard Wolowicz

NBCSN continues its coverage of the 2013-14 campaign tonight when the Montreal Canadiens host the Boston Bruins at Bell Centre at 7:30 p.m. ET. In addition to NBCSN, you can also watch the game online.

The Boston Bruins have rolled through the Eastern Conference this season, but one team they’ve yet to figure out are their historic rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

The Habs have won both meetings this season and five in a row going back to last year. Playing hockey isn’t easy, and while wins have been plentiful for the B’s, you’d better believe their rivals getting the best of them sticks in their collective craws.

The Bruins come into tonight’s game on a five-game winning streak that has seen their offense dominate. They have 21 goals over that span and even came away with a shootout victory against Tampa Bay last Saturday.

Jarome Iginla has been on fire lately with three goals and two assists during the win streak. He cracked the 20-goal barrier for the 15th time in his career and has 49 points this season. Patrice Bergeron had a goal and two helpers against Florida on Sunday and Boston has nine players in double-figures in goals with Brad Marchand leading the way with 21.

When you factor all of that in with the tremendous defense led by Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask’s stellar goaltending, it makes for a more-than formidable lineup. These things bother not the Habs, however.

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Montreal geared up for what could turn out to be an eventual playoff battle with the Bruins by acquiring Thomas Vanek from the New York Islanders. Vanek has scored 30 of his 271 career goals against Boston, the most against any opponent. His years with the Buffalo Sabres helped make that possible, but it’s built him a résumé that attracted the Habs.

The Habs offense is a funky brand of attack that’s led from the back end by P.K. Subban and up front by Max Pacioretty. Subban’s 45 points are tops on the team, but it’s Pacioretty and his 30 goals that will make him a focus of Boston’s defense. Alex Galchenyuk’s return from injury as well as Vanek’s arrival have given a lift to Montreal’s offense, although lately times have been tougher.

Montreal comes into the game having lost three of the past four games and Carey Price’s absence due to injury hasn’t helped. Instead, Peter Budaj and Dustin Tokarski have had to take the reins to make sure they don’t slip too far back into a muddled Eastern Conference playoff race.

If Montreal comes away with a win tonight they’ll jump over the Toronto Maple Leafs into second place behind Boston. The Bruins aren’t in real danger of losing their Atlantic Division lead, but if they can help keep the Habs down and turn their fortune against their hated rivals, they’ll be more than happy to do it on their turf.

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