Bruins at Ducks
THE STORY: The Northeast Division-leading Boston Bruins conclude their three-game California road trip when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Boston enters with three-point leads on Ottawa in the Northeast and Southeast-leading Florida for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins halted their four-game road skid with a triumph in Los Angeles on Saturday. Anaheim, which has won three straight meetings with Boston, has won seven of 10 at home.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE BRUINS (43-28-3): Captain Zdeno Chara can concentrate on helping Boston to a division title now that his 1,000th career game is under his belt. The defenseman became the 277th player and 91st defenseman to accomplish the feat. Patrice Bergeron reached the 20-goal mark for the fourth time in his career and second in as many seasons. He scored a career-high 31 goals in 2005-06, his sophomore campaign in the NHL.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (32-32-11): Defenseman Toni Lydman has missed three games with an upper-body injury. Lydman, who has recorded 13 assists in 69 games, is used to the rigors of an NHL season. “Everything kind of piles up during the year,” he said. “Usually, that's how it is towards the end. You're starting to get more and more stuff. It's nothing new.” Jonas Hiller has made 68 starts thus far this campaign, tying the franchise record set by Guy Hebert in 1999-2000. Hiller has been selected as Anaheim's nominee for the Bill Masterston Trophy.
OVERTIME:
1. The Bruins have lost 15 of their last 22 games against Pacific Division opponents.
2. Boston is 34-0-0 when owning a two-goal lead at any point in the game.