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The Bruins and Thrashers are scheduled to face-off tonight at the Philips Arena in Atlanta at 7:00. This game looks like two teams heading in different directions. The Bruins enter tonight's game trying to snap a 3-game skid (0-1-2), while the surprising Thrashers are riding a 4-game win string (3-0-1).

Know Your Enemy

Atlanta Thrashers (10-6-1)

Head Coach: John Anderson

Leading Goal Scorers:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Boston
Milan Lucic is a game-time decision tonight. Marc Savard is questionable for tonight but should return soon.

Atlanta
Pavel Kubina and Bryan Little are both game-time decisions. Goalie Kari Lehtonen has been on the shelf all season while recovering from back surgery. Boris Valabik is recovering from an ankle injury and is doing a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.

Notes:

- Rumors are swirling about Marc Savard getting ready to sign a 7-year contract extension with the Bruins worth a reported $39 million.

- Atlanta's Zach Bogosian is leading NHL defensemen with 8 goals.

- Highly-touted rookie Evander Kane has 11 points (6-5-11) in his first 17 NHL games.

- Valabik's conditioning stint in the AHL means that we won't get to see a re-match of the towering Slovaks.

Of course Chara won't have to stick up for a poor, defenseless, stick-swinging, undersized forward this time. Watch the beginning of that video and focus on #81 (I am no longer referring to him by name). Valabik is roughing him up a bit (AKA doing his job), Kessel slashes him, and immediately skates away as Z comes in to bail him out.

- Game starts at 7:00. Public Skate (open thread) starts right here a half hour before puck drop.

- For more on the Thrashers, check out Bird Watchers Anonymous...and their creepy Jason the Peeping Tom logo.

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Thrashers Fan YouTube Video

by Michael Dwyer - AP

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The Bruins will host the New York Islanders at TD Garden tonight. The Bruins have earned points in each of their last five games, but have lost their last two. The Islanders are also no stranger to the OT/SO loss, having lost a league-leading 7 times in overtime or the shootout.

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New York Islanders (7-6-7)

Head Coach: Scott Gordon

Leading Goal Scorers:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Notes:

- John Tavares leads all rookies in both goals (8) and points (18).

- This is the second of four meetings between the Bruins and Islanders. The B's won 4-3 in a shootout on October 10th after staging an epic third period comeback.

- Tonight just feels like Tuukka Time...we'll see

- For more on tonight's game for a Islanders fan perspective, check out Lighthouse Hockey

- Game starts at 7:00. Open thread starts at 6:30.

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Islanders Fan YouTube Video

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

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The Bruins are in Pittsburgh to face the Penguins tonight at Mellon Arena. This is the second time that these two teams have met this week with the B's shutting out the Pens 3-0 on Tuesday night.

The Bruins have not allowed a goal in their last 2 games and will try for their third consecutive shutout tonight. While the Bruins have played well defensively, they have struggled to score goals as of late. Despite outshooting the Florida Panthers 40-23 on Thursday night and controlling the play for most of the game, the Bruins could not manage to get on the scoreboard and ultimately fell 1-0 in the shootout.

Meanwhile, the Penguins have hit a rough patch and are looking to snap a 4-game losing streak. The Pens could get some help tonight though as Evgeni Malkin (shoulder) is listed as a game-time decision and could return to the lineup tonight.

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Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-0)

Head Coach: "Disco Dan" Bylsma

Leading Scorer:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Notes:

- Tim Thomas has allowed 4 goals in his last 5 games.

- The Bruins have scored 1 goal or less in 8 of their 18 games this season.

- For more on tonight's game from a Pens fan's perspective, check out PensBurgh

- Game starts at 7:30 and can be seen on NESN. Public Skate (open thread) starts at 7:00.

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Pens Fan YouTube Video

by Lynne Sladky - AP

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When the Bruins take the ice at TD Garden tonight to face the Florida Panthers, they will try to accomplish something that they haven't been able to achieve this season: win three straight games. Florida enters tonight's game with a 5-9-1 record. The Panthers are trying to bounce back from back -to-back loses to the Washington Capitals in a home and home series over the weekend.

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Florida Panthers (5-9-1)

Head Coach: Peter DeBoer

Leading Goal Scorer:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Florida has so many question marks with injuries entering tonight's game that I don't even want to attempt to speculate what their lines and D-pairs will look like.

Notes:

- The Panthers signed free agent tough guy Steve MacIntyre this week.

- Derek Morris missed practice on Wednesday due to an illness. Morris also sat out the morning skate on Tuesday, but still played Tuesday night vs. Pittsburgh. Unless, his condition worsened after Tuesday night's game, I would expect Morris to be in the lineup again tonight.

- Mark Stuart has put up his own money to buy tickets to tonight's game for members of the military and their families. If you would like to help honor our military heroes, you can purchase discount tickets for $50.50 that will be donated to USO New England. Fans that donate tickets will be entered into a drawing for tickets to the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park. To find out how you can donate tickets to The Seats for Soldiers program, visit www.bostonbruins.com/seatsforsoldiers

- For more on the Panthers, check out Litter Box Cats

- Game starts at 7:00 and can be seen on NESN and heard on 98.5 FM "The Sports Hub". Public Skate open thread starts a half hour before puck drop.

Today's Obligatory Embarassing Panthers Fan YouTube Video

by Paul Sancya - AP

Reason # 227,589 to hate the Penguins: Grown men that dress like this in public

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The Bruins will host Sidney Crosby and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at TD Garden. The Bruins are looking to build off their 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night, while the Penguins will try to turn things around after a 5-0 loss to the San Jose Sharks.

Know Your Enemy

Pittsburgh Penguins (12-5-0)

Head Coach: Dan "Disco Dan" Bylsma

Leading Scorer:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Notes:

- Michael Ryder wasn't feeling well yesterday and sat out practice. Claude Julien said that the winger does not have H1N1 symptoms.

- The Penguins practiced yesterday at BU's Agganis Arena.

- Games starts at 7:00 and can be seen on Versus. Public Skate open thread starts here at 6:30.

- For more on the Pens, check out PensBurgh

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Pens Fan YouTube Video

I see the patchy neck beard look has made it's way from the Penguins' dressing room to the stands.

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

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The Bruins will try to snap a 3-game skid (0-2-1) tonight when they host the Buffalo Sabres at TD Garden. Buffalo, led by the strong play of goaltender Ryan Milller, is off to an impressive 9-3-1. The Sabres will try to move on from a 5-2 loss to the Flyers last night. While Ryan Miller has held the fort for Buffalo so far this season, it appears that recent call up Jhonas Enroth will get the start in goal, while Tuukka Rask will get the start in net for the B's.

Know Your Enemy 

Buffalo Sabres (9-3-1)

Head Coach: Lindy Ruff

Leading Goal Scorers:

 Goaltending:

Injury Report

Notes:

- Former Rent-a-Bruin Steve Montador will face the Bruins for the first time since leaving Boston. This is also Daniel Paille's first game against his former team.

- Buffalo is 7-0-1 this season when scoring first.

- Buffalo has struggled on the power play on the road this season (2 for 20)

- The Bruins sent Mikko Lehtonen back down to Providence, which should mean that Byron Bitz is ready to go tonight.

- The Bruins are 0 for their last 20 on the power play, but have looked sharp on the PK, killing off 19 of their last 20 penalties.

- Money Line: -135 Boston, +115 Buffalo

- I have to make a confession: I actually like the BuffaSlug uniforms. There I said it.

- It's Tuukka Time!

- Game starts at 7:00. Open thread starts at 6:30.

- For more on the Sabres, check out Die By The Blade

Today's Embarrassing Sabres YouTube Video

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

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The Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at TD Garden for the first of six meeting this season. The B's enter tonight's game just one one point back in the standings from the visiting Habs. Montreal has 14 points in 15 games, while the Bruins have earned 13 points in one less game.

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Montreal Canadiens (7-8-0)

Head Coach: Jacques Martin

Leading Goal Scorer:

Goaltending:

Key Heckling Targets & Strategy:

Carey Price "CAAAAAAAAREY!"

Hal Gill Be creative. I'm sure you have plenty of ammo for "The Tower of Turnover"

Brian Gionta How he isn't tall enough to ride the roller coaster and how much BC sucks

Injury Report

Notes:

- The Bruins have not scored a power play goal in 5 games and now have the worst power play in the NHL with a 11.5% success rate.

- Montreal has also struggled with special teams play this season. The are 24th in penalty-killing (75.8%) and 25th on the power play (14.3%).

- Mark Recchi needs 1 assist to reach 900 for his career

- Montreal has called up forwards Tom Pyatt and Ryan White from the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL).

- Former Montreal Canadien Steve Begin will play the Habs for the first time in a black and gold sweater.

- The game starts at 7:00 and can be seen on NESN. The open thread start at 6:30.

- For more on the Habs and how how they built an illegitimate dynasty by taking advantage of an unfair player allocation system, check out Habs Eyes On The Prize 

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Habs Fan YouTube Video

More photos » by NIKLAS LARSSON - AP

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The Bruins are in Detroit to take on the Red Wings tonight at Joe Louis Arena. The perennial powerhouse Detroit Red Wings have looked rather mediocre this season and are off to a 5-4-3 start. As if living in Detroit wasn't bad enough, now the Red Wings aren't even that good. Hey, at least they still have a thriving automobile industry, Tiger Stadium, an NFL caliber football team,abandoned skyscrapers and Insane Clown Posse.

Know Your Enemy

Detroit Red Wings (5-4-3)

Head Coach:Mike Babcock

Leading Scorer:

Goaltending:

Injury Report

Notes:

- Chris Osgood is expected to get the start in goal for the Wings.

- According to Fluto Shinzawa, Claude Julien shuffled lines in practice on Monday. The lines should look something like this....maybe.

   Marco Sturm - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Michael Ryder
Daniel Paille - Vladimir Sobotka - Brad Marchand
Trent Whitfield - Steve Begin - Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara - Derek Morris
Matt Hunwick - Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart - Andrew Ference

- For more on the Red Wings, check out Winging It In Motown

- Tonight's game will start at 7:00 and will air on Versus and TSN for all of you North of the Border. The Stanley Cup of Chowder Public Skate open thread is back and will start at 6:30.

Today's Obligatory Embarrassing Red Wings YouTube Video