The B’s haven’t made it past a two-game win streak. Will tonight be the night?
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 7 PM
Where: TD Garden — Boston, Mass.
How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective: Nucks Misconduct
Know your enemy
- 10-6-3, 23PTS, 5th in Pacific Division
- Quinn Hughes: 4G-15A-19PTS; J.T. Miller: 6G-10A-16PTS; Elias Pettersson: 6G-9A-15PTS; Conor Garland: 5G-10A-15PTS
- Kevin Lankinen: 9-3-2, 2.74 GAA, .901 save percentage; Arturs Silovs: 1-3-1, 3.91 GAA, .857 save percentage
Game notes
- The Boston Bruins are set to face the Vancouver Canucks tonight at the TD Garden and will look to keep their win streak going.
- The Bruins are on a two-game win streak in the Joe Sacco era, coming home with a 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday and a 1-0 win against the Utah Hockey Club last Thursday.
- The Bruins haven’t been able to get on a three-game win streak yet this season. This is their third, two-game win streak, but that’s as far as consecutive wins have gone thus far.
- Yes, the caliber of teams the wins came against may not be the best, but wins are wins and the Bruins need the confidence boost.
- “There’s a level of commitment that’s making it what we want to see right now,” Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco said yesterday after practice about the team’s defensive game. In the last two games, he said they are starting to see its structure come together and guys be competitive away from the puck in the defensive zone. He also feels they are protecting out front better on the penalty kill after giving up “too many chances” in the slot.
- While defense has tightened up, the B’s are still looking for some more consistent offensive production. They are last with a 2.32 goals for/games played average right now.
- Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are on two-game point streaks. Marchand has a goal and assist while Pastrnak has two assists. Justin Brazeau has two points in his last three games.
- The Canucks are on a six-game road trip. They kicked things off on Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators.
- Tonight we’ll see Jake DeBrusk return to Boston since signing a seven-year deal with Vancouver in July. So far this season, DeBrusk has 13 points, including a three-point night on two goals and one assist in the Canuck’s win on Saturday.
- It also marks the first time back for Danton Heinen. He has 10 points in 19 games. Derek Forbort is also on the Canucks roster, but has not played since Nov. 2. He’s out week-to-week with an injury.
- Vancouver’s special teams are middle-of-the-pack. The Bruins power play is still dead last in the league, edging slightly up. The Bruins PK, while it’s improving at 77.9%, will be up to the Canuck’s power play which is 20.3% effective.
- See ya tonight!