Need to Know: Bruins vs. Panthers

BostonBruins.com - The Bruins (14-10-1), in search of their third consecutive victory, welcome the Florida Panthers (12-11-2) to TD Garden on Monday night. It is the second meeting of the season for the two teams, the first coming on Nov. 1 in Florida.
Tuukka Rask made 33 saves in a 2-1 Bruins win, while Brad Marchand and Dominic Moore provided the goals.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Here is what you need to know:

What to Watch For

The Bruins have been without Zdeno Chara and John-Michael Liles, their two most veteran blue liners, for the last three games because of injuries. Overall, Boston has been without their captain for six consecutive contests.
On Saturday against the Sabres, Boston also had to contend with Jack Eichel, whose return from injury had helped to revive the Sabres offense, which had produced nine goals over the previous two games.
Boston, however, held Buffalo to just one goal and has surrendered only 11 goals in the six games without Chara, a mark of 1.83 goals per game.
The impressive performance of the Bruins' young defense corps, coupled with the continued stellar play of Tuukka Rask has helped Boston maintain its place as one of the league's best defensive teams. The Bruins rank fourth in goals allowed per game (2.16).
Chara, however, is "probable" to return to the lineup against the Panthers, according to Bruins coach Claude Julien.

Opposing View

Panthers general manager Tom Rowe, a native of Lynn, Mass., took over the head coaching duties from Gerard Gallant on Nov. 28. The Panthers are 1-1-1 under his watch and coming off a 2-0 loss in Ottawa on Saturday night.
Florida (26 points) sits fifth in the Atlantic Division, 3 points behind the Bruins for the division's third and final playoff spot.
Jonathan Marchessault leads the Panthers with 19 points and 10 goals, but will not play Monday night because of a lower-body injury. Former Bruin Jaromir Jagr, 44, is fourth on the team in points with 12 (four goals, eight assists).
The Panthers are 10th in the league in goals against (2.44 per game) and 24th in goals for (2.32 per game). Florida's penalty kill ranks 11th (84.4%).

Wait, There's More

• Bruins winger Matt Beleskey left during the first period of Saturday afternoon's game against the Sabres with a lower-body injury and did not return. Julien did not have an update after the game.
• Rask leads the league in goals against average (1.60), ranks second in shutouts (three), and third in save percentage (.941). His 13 wins are tied for the league lead along with Carey Price (MTL), Martin Jones (SJ), Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ), and Cam Talbot (EDM).
• Forward Seth Griffith, who played 34 games with the Bruins from 2014-16, has suited up for eight games with Florida this season, registering one assist. The 23-year-old was claimed off waivers from the Bruins by Toronto following training camp, before being claimed by the Panthers on Nov. 12. He will not play Monday, according to Rowe.
• Former Bruins winger and current Panther Shawn Thornton is one point shy of the 100th of his career.