Need to Know: Bruins at Flyers
B's look to snap Flyers' nine-game win streak
by Austin Lewis @NHLBruins / BostonBruins.com
BOSTON - For now, all is quiet in The City of Brotherly Love as tension builds for Tuesday night's loaded matchup between two Eastern Conference big wigs.
The Bruins are on the hunt for their 100th point, squaring up against an opponent who is finding their rhythm at just the right time this season. Climbing their way up the Metropolitan Division ladder with an impressive nine-game win streak, the Philadelphia Flyers come into Tuesday's averaging an impressive 4.2 goals a game during that stretch. Their last loss occurred back on February 15 in a 5-3 battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"Well, they really have no weaknesses right now. Their goaltending is excellent...their special teams are good, I know their penalty numbers are excellent," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said after Tuesday morning's skate when asked about the Flyers current hot streak. "They're coming together at the right time…at the end of the day, they're a good hockey club, well coached, they're disciplined, they've got guys who have been successful in this league, so we're preparing for everything. Should be a good hockey game."
"We see that. We check scores. But at the same time, it's another game," Bruins forward Chris Wagner added. "We want two points, they want two points. I don't think it would matter if they were at the bottom of the league…you want to play well, especially against the top teams like this. Bottom line is it's just two points."
Redemption
Tuesday night's game marks the third regular-season showdown between these two teams as the B's search for revenge after dropping both prior tilts in shootout fashion. The latter of those losses came back on January 13, as a 5-2 Black & Gold lead in the third period quickly faded into a 6-5 loss at Wells Fargo Center.
"They've been rolling pretty good by the sounds of it. We've been rolling pretty well, too, and winning a lot of games," said left winger Nick Ritchie. "Two best teams in the East. We're the top team and they're probably the hottest team, so it's a pretty big matchup today."
Carlo, Krug Update
Cassidy also provided a quick update regarding Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo's progress following Tuesday morning's skate: "I think Carlo's a little bit ahead…I saw him skate [on Monday], so that's step one. We'll find out how Torey was today, and if he skates with us [on Wednesday]."
Video: Cassidy provides updates on Carlo, Krug in Philly
Tuesday's Practice Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Nick Ritchie - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase
Sean Kuraly - Charlie Coyle - Jake DeBrusk
Joakim Nordstrom - Par Lindholm - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Jeremy Lauzon
John Moore - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Jarosalv Halak