The Bruins are home tonight to face the New York Rangers. The B's are on a four game win streak. The Rangers did the B's a favor Thursday night by beating the Maple Leafs in regulation. (Boston has Toronto's first round pick, as you may have heard once or twice.). The B's will try to return the favor by downing a banged-up Rangers squad for their fifth straight W.
No lineup changes are expected for the B's. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Rangers are hurting: Marian Gaborik, Vaclav Prospal and Chris Drury will all miss this one, and Erik Christensen is a gametime decision. Look for Henrik Lundqvist to get the nod in net, as Martin Biron started Thursday night.
New York Rangers @ Boston Bruins
7:00 PM ET, TD Garden, Boston, MA
National TV: None
Local TV: NESN
Online: NHL GameCenter Live (only in markets that don't have NESN
Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub
Notes:
- we will see whether Boston's power play success on Thursday night was an aberration or a turning point. The power play went 3 for 4, after starting the year a dismal 1 for 15.
- This will be the fourth straight game the Bruins face a team that's been wracked by injury. The Devils were without Volchenkov and Tallinder and the Capitals missed Mike Green. Don't expect much sympathy from a team with a pair of top six forwards on LTIR, though.
- Patrice Bergeron got his first two points of the season on Thursday night, and will try to bulld on that success. He's working with Blake Wheeler and Jordan Caron on the wings. One of those guys is a rookie, and the other one's playing like it.
- Looks like it's Tuukka Time tonight. Rask was first off the ice in the morning practice, so he's likely getting the nod.
- The HuLK line, or HoLK line, or Mario Brothers Line, or whatever we're calling the Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton line, has been doing much of the heavy lifting on offense, combining for 19 points so far. Tyler Seguin and Michael Ryder have been paired together every game this season, and there's been success there, as Ryder has four points and Seguin three.
- The Rangers took three of four from the Black n' Gold last season. If they'd taken four of four, the Bruins wouldn't have run into Philadelphia in the playoffs. So, there's one reason for holding a grudge.
- Rene Rancourt will sing the anthem tonight. One assumes he won't require the massive sound setup that Thursday night's singer did.
- For more on tonight's contest, check out Blueshirt Banter.