Bruins-Stars probable lineups

The defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins will put their seven-game winning streak on the line against the Dallas Stars, who have dropped two straight. Boston last lost 2-0 at Florida on Dec. 8. Since then, not only have the Bruins won seven in a row, but they have allowed a total of eight goals during those seven contests while scoring 32. Dallas is an impressive 8-4-2 in New Year’s Eve contests since moving from Minnesota in 1993.
   
BRUINS

Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Benoit Pouliot-Chris Kelly-Rich Peverley
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Joe Corvo
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid

Tim Thomas
Tuuka Rask

Notes: Tonight marks the sixth time the Bruins and Stars have met on New Year’s Eve. Dallas has a 3-2-0 mark against Boston in those contests. C Rich Peverley looks set to return after missing the past two games with an undisclosed injury and figures to return to his previous role of centering the third line. The Bruins, who are 6-2-1 against the Western Conference this season, head into this one after a 2-1 overtime win at Phoenix, their seventh straight victory. On the road, Boston is an impressive 11-3-0. The Bruins also lead the League with a plus-57 goal differential.

STARS

Loui Eriksson-Jamie Benn-Michael Ryder
Brenden Morrow-Mike Ribeiro-Steve Ott
Eric Nystrom-Vernon Fiddler-Radek Dvorak
Jake Dowell-Tom Wandell-Adam Burish

Alex Goligoski-Philip Larsen
Nicklas Grossman-Trevor Daley
Mark Fistric-Adam Pardy

Kari Lehtonen
Richard Bachman

Notes:  Dallas has dropped two straight, the most recent a 4-1 loss to Columbus on Thursday night, the Blue Jackets’ first road win in regulation this season. G Kari Lehtonen stopped 25 of 28 shots he faced in the loss to Columbus, his first action since Nov. 26 after missing the previous 12 games with a groin injury. These teams last met in Boston on Feb. 3, 2011 and it was the Bruins who prevailed, 6-3, a game where several Stars were injured. This will be RW Michael Ryder’s first game against Boston after spending three seasons there and being part of last year’s Cup-winning squad.