It’s just the third Atlantic Division matchup for the Bruins this season. They are coming off a commanding 4-1 win over Florida, but they dropped their first divisional matchup of the season in October. 

“Yeah, I mean, it’s great. I didn’t even realize we hadn’t played like really any division games. You’re kind of just in the flow. That’s kind of how the season goes,” Charlie McAvoy said after practice. “I mean, you see the emotion that goes into those. I’m sure tomorrow will be the same thing. You have that added layer of the history and the rivalry, so you know, it’ll be fun. Wrap your head around it now. It’ll be an emotional game like it always is against them. But obviously, they’re a great team. They’re a great team coming off a great season, so we gotta prepare. We had a good practice today, and we’ll be ready to go for those guys tomorrow.” 

The Bruins went 2-1-1 against the Canadiens last season. The first game in Montreal featured a Nikita Zadorov and Jayden Struble fight right after puck drop. That game also left Charlie McAvoy needing facial surgery, which forced him to miss 11 games. The first game in Boston featured a Tanner Jeannot and Josh Anderson fight right after puck drop, and that was the first of two fights that night. 

The Canadiens are still the Bruins’ biggest rival, according to Marco Sturm, and it’s “not even close.” 

Sturm did not change the lineup from Sunday’s win over Florida, which included the second line of Mikey Eyssimont, Fraser Minten, and Morgan Geekie. 

Eyssimont was called up on Saturday morning, but did not practice with the team as he traveled back from Hamilton, ON. He was thrust into the lineup on Sunday, playing on the second line, but with all of the penalties (126 PIM), Eyssimont logged just 8:16 of ice time.

“Yeah, I mean, you’re slotted in with two really good linemates who make the game really easy,” Eyssimont said after practice. “Geekie’s kind of just a knack for offense, and his shot, and Minten’s always in the right place. There obviously is some expectation there right now, but for me, it’s about playing my game and doing what I can to make them better and make their lives easier.” 

“I think what I can provide is getting pucks back and creating more o-zone time, driving the play that way,” Eyssimont added. “And the more you do that, the more it opens up for the other lines and for your linemates.” 

Eyssimont thrived in a top-six role during his time with the Providence Bruins. He still leads the AHL with 13 goals, with the next best at 10, and that made it easier for Sturm to throw him into the top-six on Sunday. 

“Yeah, that was one of the reasons why we grabbed Mikey because he can do that,” Sturm said. “He can play on the fourth line, but also we can put him in a third or second [line role]. And he played good down there, so good for him. He had a really good game [on Sunday], I thought. But he’s just one of those players I can put in different situations, and that’s why [he was] the call.”

Frederic Brunet will get to play his childhood team for the first time in his NHL career. A native of Gatineau, QC, Brunet grew up a Canadiens fan, but, obviously, his allegiance has changed. He is still rolling with Mason Lohrei on the third pair, and while the two are best friends and former roommates, Sturm sees the value in pairing the two together. 

“As a young kid, you always want to feel comfortable. If you’re not, then you’re getting nervous and I feel like you’re making more mistakes,” Sturm said. “Brunet had a great camp with Charlie McAvoy, having a veteran right beside him for the most part. I thought that was very, very important for his development. And now he’s been playing with Mason for a long time. They’re good friends on the ice, off the ice, and I think that definitely helps. He feels more comfortable playing with a guy like that. He doesn’t ever have to worry about making a mistake or not.”

“And hopefully Mason, we talked about this, he’s still young, but hopefully he will take care of him too. Just by talking to him, explaining what he experienced as a young kid too.”  

The Bruins are hosting a “Homecoming” game on Thursday. They will debut the brown Hometown Remix sweaters, and the Northeastern University Pep Band will perform throughout the night. 

That was a surprise to Charlie McAvoy. 

“I think that’s what makes Boston so special is everybody, just kind of this melting pot of universities and people that are here for school, and it’s an amazing place to live and go to school,” McAvoy said. “It was a fun thing to play off of, and that’s really cool. I haven’t played in front of a band since college. And it’s by far one of my favorite things that I remember. I think it’s what makes college sports so fun.”

Bruins Lines

PP1: Geekie-ELindholm-Zacha-Pastrnak-McAvoy

PP2: Poitras-Minten-Mittelstadt-Peterka-Lohrei