Canadiens at Bruins preview

CANADIENS (18-20-6) at BRUINS (24-10-8)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, RDS, NHL.TV

Boston is 9-0-4 in its past 13 games and hasn't lost in regulation since a 5-3 loss against the Washington Capitals on Dec. 14. Goaltender Tuukka Rask will look to extend his point streak to 15 games; he's 12-0-2 in his past 14 decisions and hasn't lost in regulation since a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 26.
Julien, who coached the Bruins for 10 seasons, went 419-246-94 and won the Stanley Cup in 2011. He was fired Feb. 7, 2017, and hired by Montreal seven days later.
The Canadiens have lost their past two games (0-0-2), including a 4-3 shootout loss against the Bruins on Saturday.

Players to watch

Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty has five points (four goals, one assist) during a five-game point streak.
Bruins forward Brad Marchand has nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past five games.

They said it

"It was a little different. Obviously you come here as the home team coach and now you're coming as a visitor, a little strange. Obviously familiar with what's going on, but ... a lot of construction going on around here and things seem to be moving ahead so it is a little strange. But at the same time I think I'll get comfortable soon enough." -- Canadiens coach Claude Julien on returning to Boston
"There's going to be rust, it's inevitable. It's his first kick at the [can] since his injury, so probably for him mentally just playing through the physical part of it early on. We understand that so we just got to allow him to be himself and play." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on defenseman Adam McQuaid, who probably will return to the lineup after missing 36 games because of a broken right fibula

Canadiens projected lineup

Max Pacioretty -- Paul Byron -- Charles Hudon
Artturi Lehkonen -- Tomas Plekanec -- Brendan Gallagher
Alex Galchenyuk -- Jacob de la Rose -- Jonathan Drouin
Nicolas Deslauriers -- Byron Froese -- Daniel Carr
Karl Alzner -- Jeff Petry
Jordie Benn -- Jakub Jerabek
Victor Mete -- David Schlemko
Carey Price
Antti Niemi
Scratched: Joe Morrow, Logan Shaw
Injured:Shea Weber (lower body), Andrew Shaw (lower body), Ales Hemsky (upper body), Phillip Danault (concussion symptoms)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Ryan Spooner
Danton Heinen -- Riley Nash -- David Backes
Tim Schaller -- Sean Kuraly -- Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk -- Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Scratched:Frank Vatrano, Paul Postma
Injured: Kevan Miller (illness)

Status report

Price will make his ninth straight start. … DeBrusk (illness) and Acciari (upper body) skated Wednesday after missing practice Tuesday. Miller remained off the ice for the second straight day and is doubtful to play.

Stat pack

Galchenyuk has four points (two goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak. ... Bergeron has nine points (six goals, three assists) in his past six games.