Ducks at Bruins preview: Boston returns from 4 Nations for crucial stretch
'We have to play some good hockey here in the last 25 games to put ourselves in a position to compete for a playoff spot,' said interim coach Joe Sacco. 'I don't know the exact number of [points] that it's going to take to get in. ... But let's look short term here, two or three games [at a time] and try to take care of business.'
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The Ducks are well short of a potential playoff spot, but a 6-1-0 run before the break moved Anaheim back to the .500 mark on the season and put it in much better shape in the standings.
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Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Here's a preview.
When:
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where:
TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio:
NESN, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line:
Boston -200.
O/U:
5.5.
DUCKS
Season record:
24-24-6.
vs. spread:
36-18.
Over/under:
17-33, 4 pushes
Last 10 games:
6-3-1.
vs. spread:
7-3.
Over/under:
4-5, 1 push
BRUINS
Season record:
27-24-6.
vs. spread:
23-34.
Over/under:
29-27, 1 push
Last 10 games:
5-5-0.
vs. spread:
7-3.
Over/under:
6-4
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored:
Anaheim 134, Boston 157
Goals allowed:
Anaheim 163, Boston 181
Power play:
Anaheim 12.1%, Boston 14.5%
Penalty minutes:
Anaheim 459, Boston 617
Penalty kill:
Anaheim 74.8%, Boston 75.4%
Faceoffs won:
Anaheim 44.0%, Boston 51.6%
Stat of the day:
Brad Marchand, expected to play Saturday after winning 4 Nations with Canada, posted points in six of the Bruins' last seven games before the break.
Notes:
Marchand and goaltender Jeremy Swayman are both expected to play Saturday after concluding 4 Nations on opposite sides of the United States-Canada final. However, top defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm will not suit up. While Lindholm has remained sidelined with a lower-body injury since November, McAvoy had 'an infection in his right shoulder' and suffered 'a significant injury to his AC joint' during Team USA's 4 Nations opener last week, the Bruins said. ... '[McAvoy is] such a gamer,' Bruins forward Charlie Coyle said. 'He plays hard. Yeah, injuries and things happen, but he was a man possessed playing those games. He was so much fun to watch. It fired me up watching on TV.' ... Anaheim's young core includes 2023 No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old McTavish entered the break with seven goals in his last eight games.
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