The Canadiens will enter the TD Garden for the final time this season, as these two Original Six rivals square-off for the fifth of six times this season. The Boston Bruins have a losing 1-1-2 record against Montreal this season, and will next face the Habs on Mar. 13, 2010 — just 11 days from now.

Coming back from the Olympic break, the Canadiens will embark on a four-game road trip tonight, and a total of 14 games in the month of March.

The Bruins have an even longer road ahead of them this month: 16 games in 31 calendar days, including three sets of back-to-back games, and seven consecutive away games in 11 days.

Tonight will also be the 704th lifetime meeting between the two clubs, with Boston holding a 263-331-103-6 overall record. But, the Canadiens have the scoring edge of 2,133-1,860 over the B’s.

[Goaltender comparisons]

Home Team: Boston Bruins: 27-22-11, 65 points, 3rd Northeast Division, 7th Eastern Conference,  13-12-6 at home, 4-3-3 last 10 games.

• 134 man-games lost
• 30th/last with 2.35 goals-for per game
• 4th in the NHL in goals-against, 2.42
• 18.1% on the power play ranks the B’s 18th overall
• 86.0% success rate on the penalty kill is 3rd best in the league

[Update: Patrice Bergeron will not play tonight due to a groin injury]The Bruins are looking for their first five-game win streak since Mar. 22 – Apr. 4, 2009. Tonight will snap a club record 23 days between home games, with their last contest at the TD Garden against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 6, 2010.

All Bruins player were at the morning skate at the TD Garden except Patrice Bergeron — including Mark Stuart [finger] and Johnny Boychuk [orbital bone], both of who should be available, and playing tonight.

Away Team: Montreal Canadiens: 29-28-6, 64 points, 4th Northeast Division, 8th Eastern Conference, 14-15-2 away, 4-5-1 last 10 games.

• 212 man-games lost due to injuries
• 25th with 2.52 goals-for per game
• 15th in the NHL in goals-against, 2.72 per
• 24.6% on the power play ranks the Habs 2nd overall
• 83.5% success rate on the penalty kill in 7th best in the league

Jacques Martin said Carey Price is expected to get the nod between the pipes tonight for the Canadiens.

From HabsInsideOut: “Benoit Pouliot and Andrei Kostitsyn should be in the lineup after missing time before the break with injuries, and Andrei Markov will be back on the blue line for the Canadiens.” Marc-Andre Bergeron [lower body] and Mike Cammalleri [right MCL] remain on the IR; Paul Mara day-to-day [upper body].