East Notes: Matheson, Pesce, Kolyachonok

Mike Matheson is coming back for a big Thursday night tilt, announced by the Canadiens.

A major insertion into the lineup for Montreal tonight, Matheson missed the past two weeks with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old has led the team in ice time every year since the team acquired him back in 2022, and despite the missed time, he’s remained the league leader in shorthanded playing time per game out of the gate, averaging 4:28 of PK TOI in 2026-27. Matheson has tallied four points in eight games thus far in a little under 24 minutes per night of playing time.

The Bruins have a record of 7-2-1 and have a goal differential of 8 vs. the Canadiens in their last 10 games against each other.