(Best E Casino) - The Montreal Canadiens will host a familiar foe in its home opener this evening, as the Habs battle the Boston Bruins in a Northeast Division matchup at the Bell Centre.

Montreal has defeated Boston in each of the last 11 meetings, having not lost to the club since March 3, 2007. Boston has also dropped seven in a row at the Bell Centre.

The Canadiens began their 2008-09 campaign on a three-game road trip and came away with a 2-0-1 record on the swing. Tonight's contest is the first of five straight games at home for Montreal, which was 22-13-6 as the host team last season.

Montreal earned a victory its last time out, posting a 5-3 decision in Philadelphia on Monday. Roman Hamrlik finished with a goal and one assist as the Canadiens used a four-goal third period to defeat the Flyers at the Wachovia Center.

Andrei Kostitsyn, Mike Komisarek, Robert Lang and Steve Begin tallied once each for the Canadiens, who have won two straight since losing their season opener against Buffalo in overtime.

Carey Price stopped 29 shots for the win, as the Canadiens exacted a small bit of revenge against the Flyers, who knocked Montreal out in the second round of the playoffs last spring.

Sergei Kostitsyn added two assists for the Habs and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) to lead Montreal this year.

The Bruins, meanwhile, are playing the third test of a season-opening four- game road trip. Boston was 20-13-8 as the visiting team last season.

Boston began the campaign with a victory in Colorado, but was then defeated by Minnesota on Saturday. Eric Belanger scored twice to lead the Wild over Boston, 4-3, at Xcel Energy Center.

Marc Savard tallied twice and Phil Kessel once for the Bruins in Saturday's setback.

Manny Fernandez allowed all four goals on 26 shots for the loss in his return to Minnesota. The 34-year-old spent seven seasons with the Wild before being dealt to the Bruins prior to the 2007-08 campaign.