Senators at Bruins
The Boston Bruins made a late charge for first place in the Atlantic Division thanks to a nine-game point streak (5-0-4), but they came up empty on their two-game trip to the Sunshine State this week. Boston hopes to still have a shot at the division crown when they host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The Bruins lost at Tampa Bay on Tuesday and Florida two nights later as they sit two points behind the first-place Lightning, who will clinch the Atlantic on Saturday with a victory in Carolina. But Boston can capture its first division title since 2013-14 with wins in its final two games and a loss of any kind by Tampa Bay. Brad Marchand notched an assist against the Panthers to end his three-game point drought and increase his team-leading total to 85, matching the career high he set last season. Ottawa, which has lost nine of its last 11 overall contests, wraps up its season-ending three-game road trip after suffering a 4-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA, CITY (Ottawa), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (28-42-11): Bobby Ryan was in the lineup against the Penguins and registered three shots in 15 minutes, 40 seconds of ice time after suffering a lower-body injury in Wednesday's victory at Buffalo. The 31-year-old right wing has scored only 11 goals in 2017-18, his lowest total since recording the same amount during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Matt Duchene will need to record a hat trick Saturday in order to reach the 30-goal plateau for the second time in his career (30 in 2015-16 with Colorado).
ABOUT THE BRUINS (49-19-12): David Pastrnak is second on the team with 33 goals and needs one over his final two games to equal the career high he recorded last season. Patrice Bergeron has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his last two contests after enjoying a three-game goal-scoring streak that allowed him to reach 30 for the fourth time in his career. Brian Gionta, who signed with the club after the Winter Olympics, has registered two tallies and six points in 18 games while fellow forward Rick Nash - out since March 17 with an upper-body injury but back skating - has three goals and six points in 11 contests since being acquired from the New York Rangers.
OVERTIME
1. Bruins C Riley Nash is expected to play in his 400th NHL game on Saturday.
2. Ottawa LW Tom Pyatt has gone four games without a point, keeping him one shy of 100 for his career.
3. Boston assigned C Colby Cave to Providence of the American Hockey League on Friday.