NHL: Montreal and Boston Ready for Epic Battle

The Canadiens hold a 2-1 lead entering tonight’s battle with the Bruins. With momentum in the series at stake before returning to Boston, Al Dannity expects nothing short of high drama on the ice in Montreal.

Halpern returns for Habs
After missing the last four games of the regular season and the first three match-ups in this series, veteran Jeff Halpern is back for Montreal’s big game with the Bruins tonight. The 35 year old has played 792 games in the NHL and returns after suffering a lower-body injury. The news is a huge boost to the Canadiens who will need all the help they can get after being stunned by Boston in Game 3. For all his years in the league, Halpern has only made it to the post-season five times, having never advanced past the first round. That lack of success has fuelled the veteran’s fire and he will be keen to make a big impact. NHL betting fans should expect Halpern to play a big role in penalty killing for the Canadiens tonight. He may also be used more in faceoffs, an area where Montreal have struggled in this series.

Momentum a big factor
Montreal’s two wins in Boston looked to have swung the fate of this series inexorably in their favor. The Bruins however earned a valuable win in Game 3, meaning that a win tonight would shift the balance firmly back in their favor. It’s not just that their home ice advantage would be restored at 2-2 but the mental blow it would have on the Montreal team. After achieving so much on the road, it would be psychologically damaging for the Habs to give up that lead in front of their home fans.

In other action
The mental aspect of the game will certainly factor into tonight’s clash between the Canucks and Blackhawks. The 7-2 loss in Game 4 not only cost Vancouver a shot at the sweep, it also led to questions about their fortitude. An improvement is nothing short of mandatory tonight.

Antti Niemi meanwhile has a chance to redeem himself after a disastrous showing by the goaltender nearly cost the Sharks in Game 3 of their series with the Kings. Having conceded 4 goals from just 10 shots, Niemi was pulled before San Jose rallied to win 6-5. Tonight he’ll take on Los Angeles again, where he will have a chance to put that performance behind him.