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Canadiens, Bruins renew rivalry

Jan 13, 2009 - 1:31 PM Montreal (25-10-6) at Boston (31-7-4), 7:00 p.m. EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Bruins have been one of the hottest teams in the league over the past two months of the season. The rival Montreal Canadiens are beginning to lay claim to that title.

Boston will try and snap Montreal's four-game winning streak when it wraps up a six-game homestand on Tuesday.

The Bruins won 15 of 16 from November 26-January 1 before losing back-to-back games earlier in the homestand. Boston has rebounded with consecutive wins.

Montreal, which eliminated Boston in seven games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals last season, is 9-1-1 in its last 11 games - scoring five goals or more in four straight.

Sergei Kostitsyn netted the game-winner with 22 seconds remaining as the Canadiens posted a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Tomas Plekanec scored twice in the win.

Former Canadien Michael Ryder scored a pair of goals and David Krejci had a tally and two assists as the Bruins are coming off a 5-1 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. The win improved Boston's record at home to 16-3-1 at home this season.

Boston is 2-0-1 against Montreal this season, which includes a 6-1 thumping at the TD Banknorth Garden on November 13. The win snapped a 12-game regular-season losing streak against the Canadiens.

The Bruins will be without leading goal scorer Phil Kessel, who was placed on injured reserve Monday with mononucleosis. The 21-year-old ranks third in the league with 24 goals.