Bruins at Canucks
The Boston Bruins have been inching closer to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top point total in the NHL but face a rugged stretch when they open a five-game road trip at the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. Playing away from home may not be an issue for the surging Bruins, who have won seven straight on the road as part of a 13-game road point streak.
Boston has won 20 of its last 25 overall (20-2-3) to move within three points of the Lightning with three games in hand and is 11-0-2 away from home since its last regulation road loss on Dec. 4 at Nashville. “We haven’t really had many long road trips," Bruins center David Krejci said. "This one is pretty long. We’ll have some fun with the guys, but also take care of some business.” Boston has a chance to pad its 16-5-4 road record against the Canucks, who have dropped six of their last seven and are next-to-last in the Western Conference. Vancouver gave up four first-period goals in a 6-3 loss at Boston on Oct. 19 as Patrice Bergeron made a splashy season debut with a four-point effort in what was an omen of things to come.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Sportsnet, Sportsnet360 (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (35-12-8): Bergeron is closing in on his fourth 30-goal campaign, scoring seven times in seven games this month to boost his team-high total to 27. "Bergeron would fit in with any club," former Boston coach and current Canadian broadcaster Don Cherry said. "When you talk about MVP, it's not the best player, it's the guy who is most valuable to your team and I can't see anybody in the league more valuable than him." Riley Nash also scored twice versus Calgary to match his career best with 10 goals.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (22-30-6): Forward Sven Baertschi collected a pair of assists in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Florida, but was out of the lineup 24 hours later, replaced by Nikolay Goldobin. “I haven’t been thrilled with his game as of late," coach Travis Green said of scratching Baertschi. "I know he had two assists but it’s not about points. In general, I think his energy level has been a little low as of late. I want to get a good look at Goldobin and that’s a spot he can go into.” Goldobin had two shots on net in his first game since Jan. 12.
OVERTIME
1. Bruins G Tuukka Rask is 20-1-2 in his last 23 decisions, but is 3-4-1 lifetime against Vancouver.
2. Canucks F Daniel Sedin scored his 14th goal Thursday, one shy of his season total in 2016-17.
3. Bruins D Kevan Miller, out since Feb. 1, is joining the team on the road trip but was listed as doubtful for Saturday.