Bruins vs. Blackhawks preview: Little on the line as the season winds down
'I think it was one of our better games in a long time,' Bruins coach Joe Sacco said.
The Bruins have won two of their last three games after dropping 10 in a row, and David Pastrnak has been impressive during that time. Pastrnak scored or assisted on 13 Boston goals in a row through the first period Tuesday.
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Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov is uncertain to play Thursday as he missed Wednesday's practice due to a family matter.
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Here's your preview.
When:
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where:
TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio:
NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line:
Boston -185.
O/U:
5.5.
BLACKHAWKS
Season record:
22-46-10.
vs. spread:
39-38 (1 game with no line).
Over/under:
37-31, 9 pushes (1 game with no over/under)
Last 10 games:
2-7-1.
vs. spread:
3-7.
Over/under:
5-5
BRUINS
Season record:
32-38-9.
vs. spread:
35-44.
Over/under:
40-38, 1 push
Last 10 games:
2-8-0.
vs. spread:
4-6.
Over/under:
7-3
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored:
Chicago 208, Boston 212
Goals allowed:
Chicago 280, Boston 260
Power play:
Chicago 24.0%, Boston 15.3%
Penalty minutes:
Chicago 677, Boston 783
Penalty kill:
Chicago 80.0%, Boston 76.9%
Faceoffs won:
Chicago 44.9%, Boston 51.6%
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Stat of the day:
Pastrnak became the first Czech-born player in NHL history to post three consecutive 100-point seasons.
Notes:
Massachusetts native Michael Callahan scored his first NHL goal, and 2021 first-round draft pick Fabian Lysell his first point in Boston's win over New Jersey. ... Chicago (22-46-10, 54 points) looks to recover from a 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins — only its second shutout defeat of the season but its 13th loss in 15 games (2-11-2). ... The Blackhawks' long-lasting struggles have included seven consecutive road losses. Thursday will mark their first action since holding a team meeting following the loss to Pittsburgh. ... 'Sometimes it's good to blow off some steam and not sit on it for days, so (we talked about) just how bad we played,' Chicago alternate captain Connor Murphy said. 'It's good to hear guys talk and be a part of a locker room at any stage.' ... In large part due to defensive-zone turnovers, Chicago's loss was a long way off from a 3-1 home victory over the Penguins just two days earlier. That difference and lack of effort, interim coach Anders Sorenson said, was 'mind-boggling.' ... 'I don't think they let me down,' Sorensen said. 'They let themselves and their teammates down, right? ... We're a group here. It's not me or them.'
Aiden Barker can be reached at
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