Flyers at Bruins
Tuukka Rask could be in line to set the franchise record for victories on Thursday when the Boston Bruins host the streaking Philadelphia Flyers, who have won a season-high five in a row. The 2014 Vezina Trophy recipient practiced on Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion in a collision with New York Rangers forward Filip Chytil during Boston's 3-2 loss on Jan. 19.
"Good chance (Rask will be in). We're going to wait," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "Normally I'll announce (the goaltender) the day before. Let's see how he does in the morning. It was his first full practice, we want to make sure there's no fatigue and whatnot." Rask, who sports a sterling 14-2-3 mark with two shutouts, a 1.99 goals-against average and .930 save percentage against Philadelphia, is bidding for his 253rd win to move past Tiny Thompson for first place on Boston's all-time list. The Flyers, who have been outshot in all five contests of their winning streak, tightened up defensively after Oskar Lindblom's early first-period goal in Tuesday's 1-0 victory versus the Rangers. Sean Couturier (team-leading 19 goals), who set up Lindblom's tally to record at least a point in seven of his last eight games, posted his first regular-season hat trick as Philadelphia overcame an early deficit in a 4-3 win over Boston on Jan. 16.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network, Sportsnet, TVAS, NBCS Philadelphia, NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE FLYERS (21-23-6): Rookie Carter Hart has been confirmed to get the nod on Thursday after fellow goaltender Anthony Stolarz recorded his second career shutout following a 38-save performance versus New York. The 20-year-old Hart has turned aside 137 of 147 shots during his personal four-game win streak, highlighted by a career-high 39-save performance in the Flyers' victory versus the Bruins two weeks ago. Jakub Voracek had an assist in that contest as well as in Tuesday's tilt with the Rangers, giving him eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his last eight games.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (27-17-6): Patrice Bergeron tallied twice in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Winnipeg, boosting his point total to 12 (four goals, eight assists) in 11 games this month. Although the four-time Selke Trophy recipient has been held off the scoresheet in both encounters this season versus the Flyers, linemate David Pastrnak (team-high 28 goals, 59 points) scored in the more recent meeting and had a goal and two assists against the Jets to push his point total to 11 (five goals, six assists) this month. Brad Marchand set up two goals versus the Flyers two weeks ago and pushed his point streak to five games (three goals, six assists) with three of his club-best 37 assists this season on Tuesday.
OVERTIME
1. Philadelphia captain Claude Giroux set up two goals in the most recent meeting with Boston to boost his team-leading totals in assists (38) and points (52).
2. Bruins G Jaroslav Halak, who is 1-5-0 in his last six appearances, made 26 saves in a 3-0 win over the Flyers on Oct. 25 before surrendering four goals on 19 shots in the rematch.
3. Lindblom has two goals and two assists in his last four games.