Bruins shoot for season sweep of Panthers

PANTHERS (23-31-7) at BRUINS (38-17-5)

TV: FS-F, NESN

Last 10: Florida 3-7-0; Boston 6-2-2

Season series: The Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers meet for the fourth time this season, with the Bruins having won the previous three games. Tuukka Rask is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.

Big story: With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, these teams are heading in opposite directions. The Bruins are gearing toward another run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs while the Panthers -- losers of seven of 10 games -- could have some new faces on the roster after the deadline.

Team Scope:

Panthers: After trailing 2-0 and 3-1 Sunday against the New York Islanders, the Panthers stormed back for four goals in the third period of a 5-3 win.

"We seem to have a will to come back in those situations and find ways to score, but we've got to stop putting ourselves in that situation," interim coach Peter Horachek said after the game.

Florida had lost four games in a row, allowing 19 goals, and has allowed at least three goals in 11 of 12 games.

"We're a team that lost a few games in a row and we needed to win a game. I think all the guys took some pride in that."

The Panthers did make a move, acquiring Brandon Pirri from the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday for two draft picks. Pirri had 11 points in 28 games with the Blackhawks this season and should see more ice time in Florida, although it isn't known if he will be in the lineup Tuesday.

Bruins: The Bruins were dominated by the New York Rangers on Sunday in the first period, but managed to escape with a 1-1 tie before controlling the game the rest of the way in a 6-3 win.

"You're outshot 20-9 or whatever and it's 1-1 so you are kind of somewhat relieved," said Rask, who had 39 saves. "We got better and got the lead and never gave it up."

It was the Bruins' first win since prior to the Olympic break. Boston lost to the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals last week.

"You definitely start asking yourself, 'Did the break affect us this much to the point where we're playing this bad?'" Milan Lucic said after the game.

Who's hot: Panthers center Shawn Matthias has five points in his past two games. … Lucic has four goals and eight points in six games for the Bruins. Jarome Iginla has six goals and 13 assists in 12 games.

Injury report: Bruins forward Loui Eriksson won't be in the lineup due to a "minor issue." Defenseman Adam McQuaid (leg) is also out. Defenseman Denis Seidenberg (knee) is on injured reserve. … Panthers forwards Tomas Kopecky (concussion) and Aleksander Barkov (knee) are on IR.