Need to Know: Bruins at Rangers

NEW YORK- The Bruins will have a slightly different look when they visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in search of their third straight victory.
Jaroslav Halak will get the call between the pipes for the second end of the back-to-back, while Danton Heinen will re-enter the lineup after missing the last two games as a healthy scratch. David Backes will sit up front, with John Moore and Steven Kampfer the scratches on the back end.

"This is a little bit of a three in four nights, back to back. I thought the heavier teams were Washington, the Islanders," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said when asked for the reasoning behind sitting Backes. "Danton Heinen, we've discussed his game, where it's at. I think he helps us win games with his overall play. His offense hasn't been where he'd want it or where we maybe expect it, so we certainly don't want him to lose his edge as well."

For the most part, Cassidy has been pleased with Heinen's game, though he would like to see the winger produce more offensively. Heinen has six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 49 games this season.
"Obviously you want to be in the lineup, but the team's been playing well lately, a couple big wins. Definitely excited to get back in and try to help the squad," said Heinen, who will play the right side on a line with Joakim Nordstrom and Trent Frederic.
"It's natural to think about it and let it fill space in your head, but I've been trying to focus on being good in other aspects and just trying not to overthink it and believe that it's gonna come."
Heinen believes that his play away from the puck has improved steadily since his first eight-game stint with Boston during the 2016-17 season.
"I think I've been better along the walls, that was a big thing for me," said Heinen. "The puck battles and the getting pucks out and being reliable in my own end. I think I definitely keep on working on it and trying to improve there.
"From when I [first] came I've definitely gotten better in that aspect. You just try to work on everything, improve on everything. I think those things I have improved on."

Opposing View

New York, which enters tonight's game having lost three of its last four, took the last matchup between the teams, a 3-2 victory on Jan. 19 at TD Garden in the final game before the bye week.
"I don't think it was our best game at home," said Cassidy. "If I'm not mistaken it was right before the break and we just weren't focused. We've got to make sure that's No. 1, [be] ready to play. But they're a young team, a good group of forwards who can score.
"I'd imagine we'll see [Henrik] Lundqvist, we always do…he plays well against us, so we can expect that. We've got to make sure we take advantage of things we do well, which is defend and win pucks."
Lundqvist, now in his 14th season with the Blueshirts, is 16-13-8 with a 3.04 goals against average and .906 save percentage. Mika Zibanejad paces the Rangers offensively with 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) in 52 games, while Chris Kreider leads the team with 24 goals.

Classy Dish

David Pastrnak took a couple of peaks over his shoulder just to make sure the coast was clear. But there was never really a doubt that he would forgo a shot at the Islanders empty net.
Instead of sliding his 31st goal of the season into the open cage, Pastrnak left a drop pass for Patrice Bergeron, who slammed it home for his second goal of the night in his 1,000th career game - a 3-1 Bruins victory on Tuesday night at TD Garden.
"I looked the first time, they were still having a pretty good back check on Bergy," said Pastrnak. "I skated longer and then I had one more look and he was wide open, so obviously I think anyone would do that in my position.
"You don't play 1,000 games as a Bruin every day, so we all wanted to make it memorable for him. He's given so much to this organization and still does. Our focus yesterday was just to win it for him."

Wednesday's Projected Lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Peter Cehlarik
Joakim Nordstrom - Trent Frederic - Danton Heinen
Sean Kuraly - Noel Acciari - Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara - Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug - Kevan Miller
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask
Scratches: David Backes, Steven Kampfer, and John Moore.