Despite the snowfall in Boston, the Bruins are looking hot as they face the New Jersey Devils tonight at TD Garden. Since the trade deadline, former Devils Marcus Johansson is set to face his old team. Tonight’s game will also mark the 666th career game for Brad Marchand, who has 18 points in his past 12 games. Tuukka Rask , who’s been playing red-hot (13-0-3), will get the start in net.
HOT IN THE CITY
The Bruins are coming off a huge 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Thursday. Boston is hoping to extend their amazing game point streak to 16 games. Forward Jake DeBrusk has 12 points in his last eight games. A big side note: Boston has gone the entire month of February without a regulation loss. During the Lightning game, Bruins forward Sean Kuraly took a nasty hit that saw him being bounced between Braydon Coburn and Erik Cernak. He has been placed in the NHL concussion protocol.
UPDATES
With Kuraly’s sidelined, Providence’s Peter Cehlarik is once again recalled on an emergency basis. He will be most likely slotted with Charlie Coyle and David Backes. Look for Joakim Nordstrom to play with Noel Acciari and Chris Wagner. Kevan Miller will miss tonight’s game as he is recovering from an upper-body injury. For new Bruins player Marcus Johansson, he was quoted that facing his old team will be a “little weird”:
“Obviously made a lot of good friendships. It’s gonna be weird, but I got to do it when I got to Jersey and played Washington, so I kind of know the feeling a little bit, but it’s gonna be a little odd at first.”
Patrice Bergeron was given another maintenance day on Friday. David Pastrnak continues to skate as he recuperates from his surgery. With the regular season coming to a close, expect more maintenance days for key veteran players:
“…weeks like this, we’d rather them not skate day of game. So if they go out today and do like a pregame skate for 15 minutes, sometimes the day after a game, as long as you get your sleep, its easier than going twice the day of a game…There may come a time when you might give them the whole day off and no morning skate but that kind of depends..how they feel, the fatigue level.”
Coach Bruce Cassidy
OPPOSING TEAM
The New Jersey Devils will be facing the Bruins for the second time tonight with the Devils beating Boston 5-2 back on December 27th. New Jersey lost to the Flyers last night 6-3. They have lost two straight and are 5-8-1 in their last 14 games. Drew Stafford will play his 100th game for the Devils. Jersey are 1-5-1 when they play the Bruins in Boston.
Right-winger Kyle Palmieri leads the team in goals (26) and points (48). Nico Hischier leads the team with 27 assists. Their current record is 25-32-8 and they are last in the Metropolitan Division. The Bruins (38-17-9) are second in the Atlantic Division and third in the league. Mackenzie Blackwood will start in between the pipes for the Devils.
WHEN TO WATCH: Tonight with puck drop at 7:00 PM
WHERE TO WATCH: NESN, MSG+
