While the Boston Bruins are primed to stick with the same lineup that won them Game 2, the Montreal Canadiens are making two minor tweaks to their mix for Game 3.
The Habs are moving Travis Moen in for Brandon Prust and are shifting veteran defensemen by replacing Francis Bouillon with Douglas Murray.
At least one indication is that Prust is injured:
Prust out for Canadiens. @KnucklesNilan30 said on TSN 690 yesterday he thought Prust looked injured.
— Matt Kalman (@MattKalman) May 6, 2014
Both Moen and Prust are rugged players, so the lineup impact is probably minimal.
The more interesting shift is that they added a lot of beef to their blueline. According to the Habs’ Web site, Murray is seven inches taller and 46 lbs. heavier than “The Bouillon Cube.” At 34 to Bouillon’s 38, Murray’s also a bit younger (though basically his equal as far as experience goes).
Some have criticized Murray for questionable hits and perhaps equally questionable mobility, but he certainly should be prepared if the physicality of this series ratchets up another level.
(Oh yeah, it also shapes up for a battle of Douglas [Murray] and Dougie [Hamilton], if you’re into jokes like that.)