Let the tank continue…
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 7 PM
Where: Prudential Center — Newark, NJ
How to follow: NESN+, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective: All About the Jersey
Know your enemy
- 41-29-7, 89PTS, 3rd in the Metropolitan Division
- Jesper Bratt: 21G-67A-88PTS; Jack Hughes: 27G-43A-70PTS; Nico Hischier: 35G-31A-66PTS
- Jacob Markstrom: 26-14-6, 2.43 GAA, .903 save percentage
Game notes
- Fresh off of a tank-reviving loss in Buffalo on Sunday night, the Bruins bring their road show to Newark to face a New Jersey team that is essentially playing out the string hoping to avoid injuries. The Devils are comfortably in the third spot in the Metro and too far out to get to second, so…they’re in “don’t get hurt” mode.
- Unfortunately for the Devils, they’ve already experienced a big “hurt” this spring, with Jack Hughes suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in early March. He was having an excellent season, with 70 points in 62 games.
- These two teams will play twice in the span of a week, with the Devils visiting TD Garden on April 15 for the season finale. Last time they played each other was back on January 22 in New Jersey, a 5-1 win for the Devils.
- After some ups, downs, and injuries, the folks at All About the Jersey are trying to bring positive vibes into play as the playoffs approach. Manifesting, etc.
- The Devils are strong special teams squad, boasting the league’s third-best power play (28%) and fourth-best penalty kill (82.4%).
- New Jersey has won three in a row and four of its last five, the latest being a 4-0 drubbing of the rival Rangers on Saturday.
- David Pastrnak continues to do whatever he can to drag the Bruins to respectability, as he has registered 5G-7A-12PTS totals in his last five games.
- On the other side, Nico Hischier is on a decent heater himself, with 4G-5A-9PTS in his last five games.
- This is the Bruins’ second-last road game of the season. They’ll close out their road slate on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
- A reminder for those watching locally: I’m 99% sure this game will air on NESN+, with the Red Sox taking regular NESN. NHL.com lists the channel as “NESN,” but there’s no way they’re bumping the Red Sox for garbage time hockey.
Four games to go, folks!
Look for positives heading into next year, find joy in watching Pastrnak play, or take solace in the fact that it’ll end soon. The choice is yours, and yours alone.
See ya tonight!