Bruins at Coyotes
THE STORY: The Boston Bruins could hardly be blamed if they wanted to skip the NHL's annual holiday break this season. The hottest team going into the stoppage will try to pick up right where it left off as it faces the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday in the opener of a three-game road trip. The defending Stanley Cup champions showed why they're serious threats to repeat, reeling off a six-game winning streak in which it recorded three shutouts and outscored opponents by a ridiculous 30-8 margin. Boston capped its pre-holiday schedule in style, trouncing the Florida Panthers 8-0 for its most lopsided win of the season. The Bruins tangle with a Coyotes club that has dropped two straight games, including a 4-3 decision in Los Angeles on Monday night. Phoenix has lost six of nine overall to slip into 10th place in the crowded Western Conference.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NESN, Fox Sports Arizona Plus.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (23-9-1): There may not be a hotter team in professional sports than the B's, who have won 20 of their last 23 games to rocket themselves to the top of the NHL standings. Boston has scored the most goals in the league (119), and has allowed the fewest (63). Visits to Phoenix, Dallas and New Jersey should provide a good test for the Bruins, who have one of the league's best road marks so far at 10-3-0.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (18-15-3): Phoenix is in the midst of its most grueling assignment of the season, a stretch that will see the club play 10 of 13 games on the road. Following Wednesday's brief stop in Glendale, the Coyotes open a four-game trek beginning Tuesday night in Colorado. While the thought of an extended voyage probably won't bother the Coyotes - they're 11-7-1 on the road - improving on a 7-8-2 home mark with a win over Boston is sure to be paramount.
OVERTIME:
1. The team's haven't met since Oct. 10, 2010, when Tim Thomas turned aside 29 shots to lead the Bruins to a 3-0 win. Phoenix had won three straight meetings prior to that.
2. The Coyotes placed starting goaltender Mike Smith on injured reserve earlier this week with a strained groin. Smith is 15-10-3 with a 2.52 goals-against average so far this season.