clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Preview: Bruins look to break the curse of the Red Wings this afternoon

The Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings and hope to forget about last Sunday’s loss

By Angelina.Berube
NHL: Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Just the facts

When: Today, 1:00 PM

Where: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.

How to follow: NESN, NHLN, SN, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: Winging It In Motown

Know your enemy

  • 14-41-4, 32 points, 8th in Atlantic Division
  • Goals: Tyler Bertuzzi, 18
  • Assists: Dylan Larkin, 25
  • Points: Dylan Larkin, 40
  • Goalies: Jonathan Bernier, 12-16-2, 2.87 GAA, .908 save percentage

Jimmy Howard, 2-21-2, 3.98 GAA, .889 save percentage

Game notes

  • In the teams’ last meeting on Feb. 9, the Bruins dropped their second game of the season to the Red Wings, losing 3-1. Torey Krug netted the Bs’ lone goal, with an assist from David Pastrnak. Tuukka Rask made 17 saves and was a late start after Jaroslav Halak was ruled out with an upper-body injury. For the Red Wings, Andreas Athanasiou tallied two goals, while Brendan Perlini got his first goal of the season. Bernier made 39 saves.
  • This will be the third of four games against the Red Wings this season, with both remaining at home. The Bruins have struggled against Detroit and haven’t beaten them this season. Going back further, they’ve dropped the last five games to them. But the Bruins are 20-2-9 at home right now, and the odds to break the rut are in their favor. Throw Rask’s home record on top that - 13-0-6 - and it would be shocking if the Bruins don’t come away with at least one point this afternoon.
  • Patrice Bergeron’s line is going streaking! Pastrnak is on a three-game point streak with three goals and three assists. Bergeron has also tallied points in the last three games, accumulating two goals and three assists. Although Brad Marchand is not on a streak, he did contribute two assists against the Canadiens, with that beautiful play on Pastrnak’s first goal. It’s a fun line to watch to say the least.
  • Jeremy Lauzon’s two games suspension for his illegal check to the head on the Coyotes’ Derek Stepan last Saturday is now up. Yesterday, the Bruins signed the defenseman to a contract extension and at practice, he got reps alongside Matt Grzelcyk. It’s unclear if he will be in the lineup or if John Moore will stay on that third pairing. Moore has had a stronger showing in his last few games that’s he’s subbed in for Lauzon and Brandon Carlo. He’s had two to three shots since Feb. 8. If Lauzon’s in, he’ll bring the physicality needed in front of the net.
  • Connor Clifton is getting close to returning to full health, but still not quite ready to play today. Halak has practiced all week as he’s working his way back after an upper-body injury. He’ll back Rask this afternoon.
  • The Bs are 3-2-1 in matinee match-ups heading into today’s game.

See you at 1 p.m. for puck drop!