So is Zdeno Chara in tonight for the Boston Bruins? No one knows for sure, but the Boston captain appeared in good health during the team’s morning skate. Claude Julien won’t make a decision until gameday, so it could be the same thing we saw on Saturday. Despite several opinions, and predictions it does appear that the winner of the Paul Blart: Mall Cop lookalike contests a.k.a. Tim Thomas will get the start in goal for Boston.
The Montreal Canadiens could have Andrei Kostisyn back in the lineup, but he too will be a game time decision. But as Mike Boone said earlier today, “Dunno who’s out. Tough call, the way the team has been playing.”
Gametime is 7:30, so here is some pre-game reading for your perusal.
Eric Engels feels anything can happen, but probably won’t.
“Getting back to the relevance of the regular season, it’s been argued since Saturday night that the Bruins are a better road-team than home-team. The numbers don’t lie; they held the fifth-best road record in the league this season but they were 14th-best at home.
“But the Canadiens held the 19th-best road record and took both games in Boston. The Habs were 7th-best at home but the only other Eastern Conference team with a better home-record was Washington. All of that is relevant ahead of tonight’s match-up.”
James Murphy says the Bruins aren’t worried
More talk from the Bruins dressing room
The Habs on blocking shots
Elliotte Friedman’s 30 thoughts are full of Habs-Bruins related topics, including a theory on Chara.
“There is a sense around the Bruins that Chara is bothered by more than just a virus. Montreal fans who tweeted his illness was “karma” will have little sympathy, but the feeling is Chara is mentally torn by the injuries he caused to Max Pacioretty and Ryan Callahan.
“While the monstrous defenceman looks like a killer, guys who’ve played with him say he’s very sensitive about this kind of thing. From what I’ve heard, the phone conversation with Pacioretty was very emotional, and seeing Callahan get hurt by a slapshot really upset Chara.”
Bruce Arthur on Mike Cammalleri‘s new stick . It’s black and yellow!
Kyle Roussel on the Habs scoring first
Colin Cambell on the Raffi Torres hit.
Keith Primeau and Scott Morrison gives their opinions on the Torres hit on Brent Seabrook.
