Preview: Bruins host Devils

Just the facts:

Who: the New Jersey Devils (25-26-12, 62 points, 7th in Metropolitan, 14th in East)
visit the Boston Bruins (33-25-6, 72 points, 3rd in Atlantic, 7th in East)

What: The first game of the Drew Stafford quarter-season that he actually plays.
(He's probably going to end up in the game today. Let's hope for the best.)

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

When: 7:00 PM

How to follow: NESN, MSG+, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN Site: All About the Jersey

Devils Leaders:

Points: Taylor Hall, 41 (Kyle Palmeiri close with 40)

Goals: Palmeiri, 19

Assists: Hall, 27 (Travis Zajac close with 26)

Shots: Hall, 172

Bruins Leaders:

Brad Marchand, 29G - 38A - 67 Points

Shots: Patrice Bergeron, 229

Game Notes

• New B's forward Drew Stafford will likely slot in tonight. It's expected that he'll be in the rotation for the third line, and we'll see who sits.
• A second forward will likely have to take a break, as well - watch for any of Schaller, Beleskey or Hayes to take a seat to make room for another of their contemporaries.
• With Rask taking two games in a row already this week, expect Khudobin to get tonight's start vs. the Devils.
• Regardless of who is starting, the B's need to hit early and often. Such was the doom of their game agains the Rangers. Cory Schneider held the Capitals to just one goal, and the Bruins should be making that assumption to start the game, if not all the way through it.