Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/24/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET 

Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QE

Where to watch: RDS, TSN2, NESN

DraftKings: Bruins -300, Canadiens +240

BetMGM: Bruins -275, Canadiens +225

Caesars: Bruins -303, Canadiens +240

Bruins: 48-25-5

Canadiens: 20-48-11

Any time the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens get together, things tend to get heated and the lesser of the teams also tend to play better. But I don’t think anyone expected the Habs to fall off as much as they have, but I don’t think we should be thinking too far ahead in thinking Montreal can’t handle Boston on the second leg of a back-to-back and with Boston having to travel across the border.

I know that’s hard to actually think about considering the Canadiens have lost eight straight and are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators, in Ottawa, with Carey Price still looking for his first win since coming back from the injured list.

Price made 20 saves, and found a way to lose despite Rem Pitlick scoring twice. Things, clearly, have not looked any better in what’s been just a horrifying season for last year’s Stanley Cup finalists.

"It sucks to lose," Pitlick said. "I think that as a team, and as an athlete, there is that fire and frustration when you lose. Like, we're pissed off. But we're just going to keep working. There's nothing you can do other than trying to keep getting better and hopefully it bounces in your favor."

But if we’re looking for some sort of silver lining involving Montreal, the Habs put 44 shots on Anton Forsberg and scored four times. That just wasn’t enough in that lexicon to get the win. Now, that’s not to say the likelihood of Jeremy Swayman would not stop more shots as the more fresh goalie, especially after a hard-fought game against one of the top teams in the Metropolitan Division.

Boston, however, getting that 3-1 win against the Rangers at home might have been one of the more complete efforts the Bruins have put together this season. David Pastrnak scored in his return to the lineup after an undisclosed injury, missing eight games, but he did record his 500th NHL point with a goal and an assist.

"It was nice that I was able to come back and help the team," Pastrnak said. "… I got better as the game went. The first period was a little rusty, but obviously the goal helped me. Obviously, it's nice [to get 500 points]. If you told me as a kid, I wouldn't have believed you. I'm very humbled about it and happy.  … At the same time, there's other goals that I have on my mind."

Pastrnak had the third-fewest games in Bruins history to reach 500 points, which is a great sign on the trajectory of his career should he keep this up.

"This time of year, you're in the dog days, so to speak, and you're looking forward to the playoffs. … So there was a little different energy in the room [with Pastrnak, Lindholm and Ullmark returning]," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I didn't get a medical report yet if there were any setbacks at all. It certainly didn't look like it. … Nice to see them back in the lineup."

Boston is getting healthy at the right time and I think that should play a factor in this game. While I also think that Montreal should win the game based on the rest factor. I’m going to say, ultimately, Boston gets the win, but don’t be shocked if the Habs pull off the upset. I think it’ll be low-scoring enough. Bruins win 3-2

Bruins are 15-7 this season against division opponents.

Canadiens are 8-26 this season after losing eight of 10.

Bruins:

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Jake DeBrusk

Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- David Pastrnak

Trent Frederic -- Charlie Coyle -- Craig Smith

Nick Foligno -- Tomas Nosek -- Curtis Lazar

Hampus Lindholm -- Charlie McAvoy

Matt Grzelcyk -- Brandon Carlo

Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton

Jeremy Swayman

Canadiens:

Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Mike Hoffman

Rem Pitlick -- Christian Dvorak -- Brendan Gallagher

Mathieu Perreault -- Jake Evans -- Josh Anderson

Michael Pezzetta -- Ryan Poehling -- Tyler Pitlick

Alexander Romanov -- David Savard

Joel Edmundson -- Jeff Petry

Jordan Harris -- Chris Wideman

Carey Price

Points: Brad Marchand -- 74

Goals: David Pastrnak -- 39

Assists: Charlie McAvoy -- 45

Goalie: Jeremy Swayman -- 22-13-3, 2.35 GAA, .916 SV%

Points: Nick Suzuki -- 58

Goals: Nick Suzuki -- 20

Assists: Nick Suzuki -- 38

Goalie: Jake Allen -- 9-20-4, 3.30 GAA, .905 SV%