The Boston Bruins snapped their three-game losing streak Wednesday night as they beat the Detroit Red Wings in a shoot out. It was a game the Black and Gold almost had to have heading into Montreal Thursday night.

David Krejci and Reilly Smith netted goals in regulation and in the shoot out to give the B’s their second victory of the season. Tuukka Rask turned in one of his better outings of the season with 18 saves on 20 shots while the entire team turned in one of their best 65 minute efforts of the season.

Tonight, the Black and Gold visit the Bell Centre for the Canadiens home opener. The last time these two teams met in a meaningful game, the Habs sent the B’s home packing for the summer on their home ice in front of a sold out TD Garden. We all know that still doesn’t sit well with the Black and Gold.

The B’s will look to build a winning streak Thursday night most likely against Carey Price and the Canadiens.

Here is your Bruins Daily Game Day preview:

Game Day details:

Time: 7:30 pm
Network: NESN/ 100.7 WZLX FM
Records: Bruins 2-3-0, 4 points/Canadiens 3-1-0, 6 points
Location: Bell Centre

Bruins’ projected lines:

Lucic-Krejci-Griffith
Marchand-Bergeron-Smith
Kelly-Soderberg-Eriksson
Paille-Spooner-Fraser

Chara-Hamilton
Seidenberg-McQuaid
Krug-Miller

G-Rask
Svedberg

Canadiens projected lines:

Pacioretty-Desharnais-Gallagher
Galchenyuk-Plekanec-Parenteau
Bourque-Eller-Sekac
Weise-Malhotra-Prust

Emelin-Subban
Markov-Gilbert
Tinordi-Weaver

G-Price
Tokarski

Who to watch for Bruins: Reilly Smith

Smith is firing on all cylinders. He leads the Bruins in goals (2) and doesn’t look like he missed a beat after having a shortened training camp due to his contract negotiations. Last night in Detroit, he played a major role in the Black and Gold’s 3-2 shoot out win. He scored to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead and then beat Jimmy Howard in a shoot out to give the B’s their second victory of the season.
His chemistry with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand is there. He just needs to continue to finish his scoring opportunities like he has during the team’s first five games of the year.
In a grueling 65 minute game last night plus the shoot out, Smith will have to have his legs back under him like the rest of his team to try and build a lead against the Canadiens in their home opener.

Who to watch for Canadiens: Carey Price

Sure, we can talk about always accounting for P.K. Subban when he is on the ice, but the Canadiens go as their goaltender goes. Price is off to a 2-1 start, but he is letting in almost four goals a game (3.66 GAA with a .878 save percentage).
If the Black and Gold can get to Price early, they will be in good shape. Price was pulled from the game in a 7-1 loss to the Lightning a few days ago so his confidence cannot be high.
Last season against the B’s, he played in one of the four regular season games beating the Black and Gold 2-1. During the playoffs, it was a different story as he stonewalled the B’s leading his team to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Game day Edge: Get off to fast start and take crowd out of it

It is opening night at the Bell Centre. There may not be another arena in the National Hockey League that is a better venue for that. The Bruins need to get off to a fast start and build a lead as they did versus the Red Wings. There is nothing like silencing the Bell Centre.
The Black and Gold need to finish their scoring chances as David Krejci did against Jimmy Howard on a beautiful feed from Chris Kelly and Reilly Smith did on the feed from Patrice Bergeron.
Make Carey Price uncomfortable early. He may be already uncomfortable nearly letting in four goals per contest. Those numbers will come down, but for now, the Black and Gold should take advantage of an opposing goaltender not playing well.
Coming away with another two points could be crucial for the Black and Gold’s confidence and what a way to do it by beating your biggest rival on their home ice on Opening night.