GAME DAY | Bruins – Canadiens: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy

• Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien: “Our focus is just about kind of regrouping. I really felt that our guys tried [on Monday] — the fatigue factor was definitely there and because of that, we took a lot of penalties and probably again had some players logging a lot of ice time, and you lose a player early in the game too [with Kemppainen] so you shorten your bench.”
• Zac Rinaldo: “We’re going to have to be really disciplined, we’re still going to have to be a hard-nosed, tough hockey team to play against, but within the lines and the rules of the game, so we can’t give them any opportunity to get any goals or pick up any points. That’s what we have to do.”
• Sven Andrighetto on his recent promotion to the first line: “I was really excited, and I’m still excited. To play alongside Pacioretty, one of the best players in the league is huge for me, when I played with Chucky and Eller it was also a huge opportunity for me. Personally it doesn’t change a lot for my game. I have to be consistent in what I do, bring my speed to the line and still focus on the little details. Just keep it simple and it will all work out well.”
• Captain Max Pacioretty on Alex Galchenyuk‘s recent offensive breakout: “[Galchenyuk] has taken his game to the next level, I think, the last couple of weeks, he’s done great with Lars [Eller] and Sven [Andrighetto] and whoever’s been put with him, and the brief moments I’ve been with him I’ve felt very comfortable, so I think he’s ready to make the next step, and I think from up top that’s what it looks like as well.”
• Dating back to the beginning of the 2013 NHL season, the Canadiens are 9-1-0 versus the Bruins in the regular season. Yes, that is one loss in the past three years. During this span, the Canadiens have also outscored the Bruins by a combined score of 32-17, that’s an average score of 3.2 to 1.7 per game.
• The Canadiens place fifth in the league in goals against, with 63 in their first 28 games. The Bruins’ defensive game hasn’t been nearly as good as it used to be, as they have allowed 75 goals against in their first 26 games and are in 18th in the league in that category.
• The Canadiens are in sole possession of first place in the NHL in the goals for category, with 94 over their first 28 games. The Bruins’ offense has been nearly as good, as they are in 4th place with a total of 85 goals over their first 26 games this season.

2015-16 statistics

• The dreaded right wing position, it’s one of the most difficult roster spots to fill in, just ask the Montreal Canadiens. To start the year, the Canadiens had a formidable top three lines down the right side with Brendan Gallagher, Alex Semin and Devante Smith-Pelley/Zack Kassian and as I’m sure all of you may know, NONE of those starting four will be in the lineup Wednesday night. Gallagher and Smith-Pelley are hurt, Semin passed through waivers and Kassian is dealing with off-ice issues. This leaves a massive opening in the Canadiens’ roster and in come Sven Andrighetto and Paul Byron to fill the gap in the top 6. Obviously Andrighetto gets the largest boost in potential fantasy value as he is lining up with the high flying Pacioretty on the first line (remember the first game Smith-Pelley was given this opportunity? Well he scored two goals). Andrighetto may be a gamble to pick up, but in daily or deep fantasy leagues, you need to gamble to win and I like my chances with Andrighetto. Next up is Byron, who was a waiver wire pickup earlier this season from Calgary, as he gets the opportunity to play with the red-hot Alex Galchenyuk and Lars Eller on the second line. Look for Byron to get a boost in playing time and possibly get a couple extra hits and SOG throughout the game. There isn’t as much potential for offense on this line so don’t get your expectations too high. It is worthy to note that Weise also gains value as Plekanec has been demoted to the third line alongside fellow countryman, Tomas Fleischmann, and Weise.
• Top scorers for the Bruins on the road this season are:

1. Brad Marchand (with 12 points in 12 games).
2. Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci (with 11 points in 13 games)
3. Zdeno Chara (with 10 points in 13 games)

• Top scorers for the Canadiens at home this season are:

1. Max Pacioretty  (13 points in 15 games)
2.  Tomas Plekanec (with 12 points in 15 games)
3. David Desharnais (with 11 points in 15 games)

Player stats retrieved from War on Ice, NHL.com and Yahoo Sports

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