Habster:
I’m a little surprised Tom Kostopoulos isn’t playing as he had a very good game against the Blackhawks (they also need a physical presence in the lineup). I hope Bryan Smolinski can improve the face-off deficiencies the Habs have had the last few games.
Here’s the line combinations for tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins:
Montreal:
FORWARDS:
Kovalev/Plekanec/A. Kostitsyn
Latendresse/Koivu/S. Kostitsyn
Higgins/Lapierre/Ryder
Dandenault/Smolinski/Streit
DEFENSE:
Komisarek/Markov
Hamrlik/Brisebois
Gorges/Bouillon
GOAL: Huet
PRESS BOX: Kostopoulos, Locke, Begin (injured)
Boston Bruins:
Boston Globe (Pivotal game):
Julien said there’s a good chance that Aaron Ward, out the last eight games with a broken left foot, could return tonight. Ward skated in yesterday’s puckless session and participated in today’s morning skate.
* Glen Murray’s return is indefinite, according to Julien. Murray (hip flexor strain) didn’t skate today or yesterday.
* Tim Thomas will start tonight.
* P.J. Axelsson, Marc Savard, Marco Sturm, Chuck Kobasew, Glen Metropolit, and Peter Schaefer took this morning off.
Tonight’s expected lineup, with Ward back in the mix:
Forwards:
Axelsson-Savard-Kessel
Sturm-Krejci-Kobasew
Lucic-Metropolit-Schaefer
Reich-Nokelainen-Thornton
Defense:
Chara-Wideman
Stuart-Ference
Hnidy-Ward
Goal: Thomas
