The league-leading Montreal Canadiens (15-5-1) who have won seven of eight, embark on a road-heavy stretch tonight against a Bruins team that has won its last six at home and has won three straight overall.

The Habs will be relying on Max Pacioretty, who has notched five points in the two Canadiens’ wins over Boston this season, both at home. Montreal beat the Bruins at home 6-4 on October 16 and then took another home decision nine days ago, 5-1.

Pacioretty, who scored twice against the St. Louis Blues in a 4-1 home decision Thursday, now has 10 goals in 21 games.

Boston Coach Claude Julien has complained about a schedule that has seen the Bruins slated to play the Habs without a days rest in all four of their tilts this year, while the Habs have the luxury of not playing on the day prior.

“These are fun games to play and I think that’s what makes it exciting,” Canadiens four-goal forward Dale Weise told CTV Montreal before the trip to Boston Friday. “I think we have a serious dislike for each other. Every game that we play stirs the pot a little bit and both sides do a pretty good job of fueling the fire.”

But Boston (13-8-0) has been tough at home this season, ceding only eight goals in their own barn in their last six games, all wins.

As if the Montreal Canadiens first visit to Boston this season had insufficient drama, an added twist has been injected to the narrative as a fight involving Bruins tough-guy Milan Lucic last night in Columbus has inspired much chatter.

Lucic, who has become a Habs nemesis over the years, most recently by reportedly threatening Dale Weise in a handshake lineup last spring, was felled by a single punch by Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenceman Dale Prout with three seconds remaining in overtime last night.

Lucic, apparently frustrated by having the stick knocked from his hands, cross checked Prout, dropped his stick and pushed his gloved hands in Prout’s face. Prout, in turn, dropped his gloves and felled the Bruins’ giant with a solid right hand.

In hockey discussions even most Boston fans opined that Lucic was wrong to claim that he had been sucker punched.

Boston backup netminder Niklas Svedberg might have earned the start tonight after his impressive performance in Columbus. Regular starter Tuukka Rask is 6-1-0 in November but is only 3-11-3 lifetime against the Habs, giving up five goals on 23 shots in his last outing in Montreal. However Svedberg gave up five goals on 34 shots against the Habs on October 13.

Carey Price is expected to get the nod in nets for the Canadiens. Price has won his last four against Boston and has 19 career wins against the Bruins, the most against any team.