Maple Leafs at Bruins
The Boston Bruins have lost once in regulation in the past seven weeks but still can't completely shake the team chasing them for second place in the Atlantic Division. The Bruins have collected points in 19 of their last 20 games entering Saturday's matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who arrive in Boston on a four-game winning streak.
Boston rebounded from a 3-1 home setback to Anaheim by beating St. Louis by an identical score behind another superb performance from netminder Tuukka Rask, who has not lost in regulation in more than two months. "Any team will play better when you know the goaltender has your back," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy, who jokingly added: "We got sick of losing." Outstanding goaltending also has sparked the current surge of the Maple Leafs, who have posted back-to-back shutout victories and surrendered only three goals during the four-game run. Toronto also has dominated Boston, capturing both matchups this season to run its winning streak in the series to six games.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CBC, TVA, CITY (Toronto), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS (30-18-5): Justin Holl could not have scripted a better start to his NHL career, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to score in each of his first two games. "It’s a huge honor," Holl said. "The goals and assists, that sort of thing kind ... you can’t really read too much into it, but I’m just trying to play as well as I can every night and put the team in the best position to win." Goaltender Frederik Andersen is perfect against the Bruins, posting a 9-0-0 record and 1.88-goals against average.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (30-11-8): Rask, who has not lost in regulation since Nov. 26, made 32 saves Thursday to run his points streak to 19 games (17-0-2), the fourth-longest stretch in franchise history. "A lot of it is team play, how your team plays in front of you," said Rask. "Lately, we haven't had to stand on our heads and play unbelievable games to keep us in it. Our team is playing great hockey offensively, defensively, and all around. I think it helps everybody." However, Rask is winless in four starts versus Toronto over the past two seasons.
OVERTIME
1. Maple Leafs F James van Riemsdyk, who netted his 20th goal Thursday, has scored three times in two matchups versus Boston this season.
2. Bruins leading scorer Brad Marchand will sit out the fourth contest of his five-game suspension.
3. Maple Leafs C Mitch Marner, who has three goals in his last six games, has four points in both meetings versus Boston this season.