Hockey
Canadiens-Bruins: battle for first place in the Atlantic, Fowler in net
First place in the Atlantic Division is on the line on Thursday night in Boston. The Montreal Canadiens (11-3-4) visit the Bruins (13-4-1) at TD Garden at 7 p.m. in a showdown between two teams that barely lose. Montreal, which has picked up at least a point in 11 straight games, will try to extend its run and knock Boston off the top spot, with rookie Jacob Fowler back in goal.
Fowler, once again
There is no more suspense in the Montreal crease: Jacob Fowler will be the starting goaltender against the Bruins. The rookie, named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for October, stopped 22 shots on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild and is 8-0-2 in his last 10 games. The matchup shapes up as another marquee goaltending battle, in front of a hostile crowd at TD Garden. Fowler will need to be at his best: Boston owns the best shooting-plus-save percentage in the league, a sign the Bruins have enjoyed remarkable puck luck since the start of the season. For the young goaltender, it is another big test, one month after he took over the No. 1 job.
Matheson back? The puzzle for St. Louis
The other story of the day is Mike Matheson. The defenceman, out for six games, practised in full on Wednesday and will travel with the team to Boston, a sign his return could come as early as Thursday. He has four points in eight games this season, averaging 23:45 of ice time. His return would give head coach Martin St. Louis a puzzle to solve: the current pairs are working well, with Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier, then Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom. Engstrom, at plus-6 in 12 games, and Xhekaj, with 32 penalty minutes in 17 games, are both playing strong hockey. More good news: captain Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans, who skipped practice for therapy days, will make the trip and should be available.
Two teams that almost never lose
The Canadiens arrive in Boston on an 11-game point streak (8-0-3), the longest active run in the East, despite Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Wild. The Bruins, for their part, have lost only four games in regulation and sit first in the division. Montreal will also have to manage absences: goaltender Samuel Montembeault is on injured reserve, with a return expected around November 12, while forward Ivan Demidov, out with an ankle injury, is due back around November 14. After Boston, the Canadiens return to Bell Centre on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. But first comes this summit clash — and a first-place spot to go and take.