MONTREAL—The Boston Bruins are looking to Jaromir Jagr to help end their losing skid against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, with top spot in the Northeast Division on the line.
The Habs have rallied for two straight wins at Boston since losing their first meeting with their top rival earlier this season, at the Bell Centre. Home ice has not been an advantage against the Bruins, with the Canadiens last regular season victory over their biggest rivals coming in October 2011.
Montreal has 53 points to lead the Northeast Division, while Boston has 52.
“Every game is going to be like a playoff game,” said Jagr, who marked his Bruins debut Thursday with the only goal in a 1-0 victory against New Jersey. “Every point is so important. We want to try to be in first place, so it's going to be a huge game. You want to get ready for the playoffs with games like that.”
The game could influence top spot in the division and conference seeding, but Bruins coach Claude Julien does not expect the atmosphere to be any different in this always heated rivalry.
“I think, to me, it's been exciting every game we've played–we’ve (always) played for the top spot,” Julien said. “It's no different tomorrow, so it's going to be a good game.”
Montreal is hoping to have center Tomas Plekanec back after the Czech forward missed Thursday’s 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets with a groin injury. Concussion victims Rene Bourque and Raphael Diaz are getting closer to returning but won’t feature against Boston.
Boston, meanwhile, is likely to be without Patrice Bergeron, who appeared to injure his head against the Devils. Defenseman Wade Redden should make his debut for Boston after being acquired from St-Louis.
