CANADIENS AT BRUINS

Pat Hickey lists five things you should know about the Canadiens-Bruins game at TD Garden on Monday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio).

1. The matchup

Boston-Montreal games are always special, but this game takes on added significance because these teams are battling for third place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins currently hold that spot with 54 points after beating the Maple Leafs 3-2 Saturday in Toronto. The Canadiens hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 53 points after shutting out the Colorado Avalanche 3-0. This is the fourth and final game between these teams and the Bruins hold a 2-1 edge. The Canadiens won in Boston on Oct. 27, but the Bruins won both Montreal games.

2. Price is the man

The last time Carey Price was in Boston, he made 33 saves for his first shutout of the season. He has a 25-13-4 lifetime record against the Bruins in the regular season. Price had a 28-save shutout against the Avalanche on Saturday for his third shutout. The win snapped a three-game losing streak, but Price has played well in the new year. He has allowed only eight goals in five games and has two shutouts in that span. The win gave him a 17-13-4 record with a 2.67 goalsagainst average and a .910 save percentage.

3. Speaking of goaltenders

The Bruins have a dandy of an internal battle for the No. 1 goaltending job. When longtime No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask faltered earlier in the season, former Canadien Jaroslav Halak stepped in and did an outstanding job. The Bruins were hoping Halak could push Rask, and the strategy appears to have worked because Rask is now playing his best hockey of the season. He is unbeaten in his last five starts and has only given up five goals for a 0.99 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage.

4. Danault plays at both ends

Phillip Danault doesn’t always get credit for all the things he does, but he was the first star Saturday in the win over Colorado. Danault picked up a couple of assists, including one on the winning goal when he won a faceoff in a short-handed situation and guided the puck to Brett Kulak for a shot from the point. Danault also contributed to a strong defensive effort that kept high-scoring forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen off the scoresheet.

5. Pastrnak leads the way

David Pastrnak is on his way to a career season. The 22-yearold Czech leads the Bruins with 26 goals and 53 points. Brad Marchand, who has taken a small step away from his agitator role, has 16 goals and 47 points, while Patrice Bergeron is healthy again and has 14 goals and 38 points in only 29 games. The Bruins have struggled through a number of injuries but are close to being healthy with the return of defenceman Charlie McAvoy.