Bruins at Rangers
The Boston Bruins have been the hottest team in the NHL for nearly two months, going 17-1-4 since suffering a 5-3 loss to Washington on Dec. 14. They have been especially torrid on the road and look to remain that way when they visit the Original Six-rival New York Rangers on Wednesday.
The Bruins, who have climbed within three points of league-leading Tampa Bay in the Atlantic Division, edged Detroit 3-2 on Tuesday to extend their road point streak to 11 games (9-0-2, including five straight wins) and improve to 13-1-2 away from home since falling in Anaheim on Nov. 15. New York continues to squander opportunities to climb into a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as it has lost three in a row and six of its last seven. The Rangers, whose latest failure was a 2-1 setback at Dallas on Monday, sit three points behind Columbus for the second wild card and trail New Jersey by seven for third place in the Metropolitan Division. J.T. Miller, who ranks second on the team in scoring (35 points), has recorded six points over his last four games and is four assists shy of 100 for his career after setting up David Desharnais' goal against the Stars.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network
ABOUT THE BRUINS (32-11-8): Tuukka Rask has been a major factor during Boston's amazing run, going 19-0-2 in his last 22 appearances (21 starts). The 30-year-old Finn has allowed fewer than three goals in each of his last seven starts and has yielded more than three just once since giving up four in the November loss to the Ducks. Brad Marchand, who is tied for the team lead with 50 points, will return to the lineup Wednesday after serving a five-game suspension for elbowing.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (25-23-5): Vinni Lettieri, who was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League to replace Jimmy Vesey (concussion) in the lineup, notched an assist Monday. The 23-year-old Lettieri recorded a goal and three assists in 10 games earlier this season - his first stint in the NHL. Rick Nash is four away from reaching the 800-point plateau but is mired in a four-game drought.
OVERTIME
1. Rangers D Marc Staal remains day-to-day with a cervical strain.
2. Boston C Ryan Spooner is one assist away from 100 in the NHL while rookie C Danton Heinen is seeking his third consecutive two-point performance.
3. New York has scored just three goals - one at even strength - during its current losing streak.