Last home game to close out 2023!
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 7:00 PM
Where: TD Garden — Boston, Mass.
How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing SB Nation site: All About the Jersey
Know your enemy
- *stats prior to their game last night
- 18-13-3, 38PTS, 6th in the Metropolitan Division
- Jack Hughes: 14G-26A-40PTS; Jesper Bratt: 13G-25A-38PTS; Tyler Toffoli: 14G-10A-24PTS
- Vitek Vanecek: 13-6-1, 3.26 GAA, .885 save percentage
Game notes
- The Boston Bruins look to keep things rolling from Wednesday night tonight against the New Jersey Devils! It’s the second of three meetings between the two this season. They’ll see each other for the last time of the season on Jan. 15.
- The Bruins last saw the Devils on Dec. 13, a 2-1 overtime loss. In the game, the B’s were leading in the third period, 1-0, off Morgan Geekie’s first-period goal. But Dawson Mercer scored shortly in the final frame to tie things up. Eventually, Jack Hughes ended it in overtime for the Devils.
- Tonight, they’ll face possibly a tired New Jersey team who played last night on the road against the Ottawa Senators.
- The Bruins last played on Wednesday, beating the Buffalo Sabres, 4-1, rebounding after a handful of losses. It was all about the power play which capitalized of 3 of 4 chances.
- The Devils are 2-2-1 in their last five games before Friday’s game. For New Jersey, Mercer has five points in his last five games, again prior to Friday. Timo Meier has four goals in that time span.
- For the B’s, Pastrnak has three goals and one assist in his last four games and Brad Marchand has three assist in his last two games.
- It looks like we will have another rookie debut as center Georgii Merkulov was recalled yesterday from Providence. The 23-year-old already have 30 points with the P Bruins this season. It’s his first call-up. With Merkulov up, he centered the third line of James van Riemsdyk and Trent Frederic. Montgomery told media postgame Merkulov was called up for his “200-foot game,” not because of scoring.
- The Bruins reported it looks like Jim Montgomery will keep his top six forwards looking like Wednesday night, with Geekie centering Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle helming wingers Marchand and Jake DeBrusk. Nothing knew with defensive pairings.
- Injury update: Matt Grzelcyk skated with the team in a regular jersey again at yesterday’s practice. There is still no update on Derek Forbort.
- See ya tonight!