Bruins at Senators
The Boston Bruins bid to match the second-longest point streak in franchise history as they pay a visit to Canada's capital to face the Ottawa Senators. The Bruins posted a pair of victories over the Senators last month as part of their 13-0-4 stretch, which trails only the 1968-69 team (13-0-5) and 1940-41 contingent (15-0-8) in terms of longer streaks.
Brad Marchand, who leads Boston in goals (21), assists (29) and points (50), won't be on the ice as he begins serving a five-game suspension from the NHL for elbowing Marcus Johansson during the latter stages of the third period of Tuesday's 3-2 win over New Jersey. The 29-year-old All-Star forward, who has been suspended five times in his career, is riding a four-game point streak and has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists) in his past nine contests. Ottawa remains in search of offense as it fell for the fourth straight game in familiar fashion -- via shutout. The Senators, who were blanked for the eighth time this season in Tuesday's 3-0 setback at St. Louis, were also shut out in their last encounter with Boston -- a 5-0 rout at Canadian Tire Centre on Dec. 30.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), RDS2, TSN5 (Ottawa)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (28-10-8): Four-time Selke Trophy recipient Patrice Bergeron scored for the fourth time during his four-game point streak to reach the 20-goal plateau for the fifth straight season and ninth time of his career. Fellow forward Riley Nash has scored in back-to-back contests to record at least a point in three straight contests and erupted for two goals and an assist in Boston's 5-1 rout of Ottawa on Dec. 27. Tuukka Rask turned aside 25 saves to win that one, recorded the same total against the Senators three days later and is 15-0-2 with a 1.63 goals-against average and .942 save percentage in his last 17 starts heading into the Bruins' finale before the All-Star break.
ABOUT THE SENATORS (15-22-9): Captain Erik Karlsson was extremely blunt in his assessment of whether Ottawa is close to working its way out of its malaise after coming within a goal of the Stanley Cup Final last spring. "No, not really," the two-time Norris Trophy winner told reporters. "I think we're trying to figure it out but, as I said, we're dedicated to do it, we work hard enough and we put the effort into doing it but, when it comes to playing hockey, I don't think that it’s there right now. It's not something that’s going to be fixed easily over the next little bit." Craig Anderson is expected to get the nod in net versus Boston, against which he sustained his lone loss in six career decisions after permitting five goals on Dec. 27.
OVERTIME
1. Boston LW David Pastrnak has collected three goals and three assists during his four-game point streak.
2. Senators C Matt Duchene is expected to play versus the Bruins despite exiting Tuesday's tilt after taking a puck to the face.
3. Boston C Ryan Spooner scored twice in the latter encounter against Ottawa to highlight a stretch in which he recorded eight points (six goals, two assists) in eight games.