Devils at Bruins
THE STORY: Two teams hoping to get themselves out of a rut clash Thursday when the New Jersey Devils meet the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. New Jersey has lost three straight following a four-game winning streak. The Devils had their run of seven consecutive road wins halted Monday, when they kicked off their four-game trip against the New York Rangers. Boston has seen its lead over Ottawa in the Northeast Division shrink to one point thanks to four losses in six games. The Bruins have dropped four of five at home, scoring a total of one goal in the losses.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE DEVILS (35-23-4): Defenseman Marek Zidlicky still is searching for his first point since being acquired from Minnesota on Friday. Zidlicky, who has posted a minus-3 rating in two games with New Jersey, recorded 14 assists in 41 contests with the Wild. The team's three-game skid has dropped it to seventh in the Eastern Conference, one point behind Philadelphia. Ilya Kovalchuk enters with a six-game goalless drought. The superstar has not tallied since recording a hat trick at Buffalo on Feb. 14.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (37-21-3): Brian Rolston began his second career stint with Boston on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to Ottawa. Rolston, who was acquired from the New York Islanders on Monday along with defenseman Mike Mottau, also played for the Bruins from 2000-04, scoring 101 goals and adding 135 assists in 338 games. Blue-liner Greg Zanon is expected to make his debut with the team Thursday, three days after being obtained from Minnesota. Zanon notched two goals and four assists in 39 contests with the Wild this season.
OVERTIME:
1. The Bruins have been shut out in five of their last eight losses.
2. Boston has won each of its first three meetings with New Jersey this season and seven of the last eight overall matchups.
3. The Devils have been outscored 14-5 in the three losses to the Bruins this campaign.