With four straight wins, 24 goals in their last four games, and finally at .500 for the first time this season by way of their 7-7-0 record through 14 games this year, the Boston Bruins hope the good times keep on comin' with their first meeting of the new campaign against the division rival Buffalo Sabres.
And like most of the opponents that have rolled into TD Garden as of late, the Sabres arrive to the Hub with some winning ways in their favor. Winners of four straight -- much like their counterparts -- the Sabres' resurgence despite tame starts from marquee free-agent additions has been led by the usual suspects.
As players such as Pominville, Roy, and Vanek lead the charge for a Sabres offense that's lit the lamp 14 times in the past three games, it's merely business as usual for them through the eyes of
Claude Julien. "Their game is the same. They attack well, their D supports the attack well. Nothing from their structure has changed much," the Boston coach said this morning.
Goaltending Breakdown
While nothing's confirmed, it appears that
Tuukka Rask could get his third straight start. Undefeated in his last two, stopping 51 of 56 over that stretch (good for a .911 save-percentage), the 24-year-old Finn looks to continue to roll with the hot-glove, undoubtedly aided by some strong career figures against Buffalo.
With four wins in eight career starts against the Sabres with a .931 save-percentage, Rask hopes to continue to find his groove in a week that's been all him.
"If you get in that role obviously everything feels good and you’re getting the wins and
you feel comfortable," Rask said of playing on a more consistent basis. "But sometimes you play once a week and you feel great too. It’s kind of, it’s different every week."
Playing the hot hand with the decision, Rask had a little quip about the nods. "Well two wins for me, so that’s unusual so far. So it’s a good thing."
He'll be opposed by
Ryan Miller. Making his first start since Nov. 8's overtime win over Winnipeg, a night that saw Miller allow five goals on 31 shots, the 31-year-old is looking for a break in a year that's left him with just five wins and a 2.74 goals-against-average.
Game-Changers
It's no coincidence that the Bruins have been winning while
Milan Lucic has been scoring. With goals in five straight games, and 14 points on the year, the Bruins' hulking winger looks to bring his a-game against a Buffalo club that he scored twice against in 2010-11. And given the success of line-mate Nathan Horton and the Boston power-play's revival, tonight could be yet another night for the 6-foot-4 Lucic.
There may not be a bigger Bruin-killer than Buffalo's
Thomas Vanek. The 27-year-old Vanek, who has points in all but two games this year, comes into Boston with 23 goals and 21 helpers in 40 career games against Boston. Seriously.
Stats of Note
-
Patrice Bergeron has three goals and six assists in the last eight games.
- Top-line center
David Krejci has just one power-play point this year.
- Boston winger
Nathan Horton has seven goals and 21 points in 27 career games against Buffalo.
- Eight of
Derek Roy's 12 points this year have come in the last four games.
-
Ville Leino has just two points in the last nine games.
- Undersized forward
Nathan Gerbe has a goal and four assists in six road games.
News and notes
Both
Andrew Ference (lower-body) and
Danny Paille (shattered face) will sit this one out while
Rich Peverley remains a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury. If he's unable to go, expect
Zach Hamill to get the nod once again.
And hey, here's a pic of Sloth from the Goonies. Oops, I mean Paille.
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • 
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