PREVIEW

Just the Facts

Who: The Vancouver Canucks swing through Boston for a match against the Bruins.

What: Boston’s home stand will only get more difficult; Vancouver has four more road games after tonight’s match. It’s... another good measuring point for early November.

When: 7:00 PM

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

How to watch: NESN, SNP

Rival SBN site: Nucks MisConduct

Know Your Enemy

Vancouver visits Boston. All kinds of emotions return, as it’s only been ten games between the teams since the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

So, it’s been long enough, right? Thought so.

Team Leaders

Goals: Elias Pettersson, 10

Assists: Brock Boeser, 7

Points: Pettersson, 16

Other notes: Vancouver lost in a shootout to Detroit, so while we should still always respect another NHL hockey team, there isn’t much below Detroit these days. Better to value good play from Boston... though, an offensive explosion would also be welcome.

Game Notes

• Boston’s top line has been producing for the team, but how long can have a single productive line? The return of David Backes may provide a bit of stability, but let’s not just hope for some magic formula that creates points beyond the Bruins’ current reliance on 63-37-88. (It WOULD be awesome if Patrice Bergeron kept up his 117-point season pace.)
• The clock continues to tick towards the returns of Urho Vaakanainen and Kevan Miller, who both have skated this week. Jeremy Lauzon’s return to Providence was a bit of a jolt, if not a total surprise; it felt like he challenged for a full-time spot and it’s his to own at the next opportunity. Anton Blidh didn’t get a look, other than for himself of TD Garden ice from the rafters.
• Let’s anticipate Jaro Halak in net, after Tuukka Rask filled in so admirably for him on Monday night. How they split the weekend is anybody’s guess at this point.
• Vancouver is doing surprisingly OK to start the season, and the scoring touch of wunderkind Pettersson is certainly buoying the team. At 9-6-1, the Canucks currently - and VERY prematurely - sit in a playoff spot.
• TIM SCHALLER IS A FIRST-LINE PLAYER. Just like Brett Connolly!