Panthers at Bruins
The Boston Bruins are firing on all cylinders with an almost-whole lineup and attempt to extend their point streak to 10 games when they host the Florida Panthers for an Atlantic Division matchup Thursday night. The Bruins knocked off the New York Islanders 5-1 on Tuesday to improve to 7-0-2 in their last nine games, and go after a sixth straight victory over the Panthers.
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask, named the NHL’s first star of the month for December, has earned at least a point in his last 12 decisions (11-0-1) and the Bruins are getting offensive contributions from throughout the lineup. “We knew it was coming this year,” Boston left wing Brad Marchand told reporters. “We had a lot of injuries (early in the season). We knew we just needed some time to come together a bit. You see the way some young guys are stepping up, it just seems like everyone is connecting. Everyone has that chemistry.” Florida had won five straight games before opening a five-game road trip with a 5-1 loss at Minnesota on Tuesday after being outshot 32-11 in the first two periods. “Hopefully, we learn from this game that we can’t take a night off, we can’t take our foot off the pedal,” Panthers coach Bob Boughner told reporters. “So, if we take anything out of the game, maybe it’s a good lesson.”
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Pacific, TVA, FS Florida, NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (17-17-5): Jonathan Huberdeau scored Tuesday and has hit the back of the net five times in his last five contests while tying fellow forward Vincent Trocheck (99 career assists) with a team-best 37 points. Center Aleksander Barkov (34 points) had an assist against Minnesota, but has gone seven games without a goal and right wing Evgenii Dadonov is mired in a five-game point drought. Goaltender James Reimer, who has made 12 straight starts, left the game with a minor injury Tuesday but is expected to be available Thursday.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (22-10-6): Rask, who has allowed four goals in his last five outings, started the season 3-8-2 and was benched for four straight games in favor of a red-hot Anton Khudobin in November before getting his game together. “We always knew Tuukka was our guy,” Boston goalie Bruce Cassidy told reporters. “. … Tuukka has clearly benefitted from being pushed because he’s dead-on (right now).” David Pastrnak tops the team with 35 points - one ahead of Marchand - and veteran center Patrice Bergeron (697 career points) has turned it up with four goals in the last five games.
OVERTIME
1. Boston’s rookie F Danton Heinen boasts three multi-point games in his last four and is third on the team with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists).
2. Florida RW Radim Vrbata, who has only four goals in 30 games, missed the last three contests because of illness and is day-to-day.
3. Bruins F Noel Acciari has scored in three consecutive games to give him five on the season and seven in 72 career contests.