BOSTON - Ultimately, it's the Bruins and Avalanche that will be going head to head on Wednesday night in Denver. But inside of that matchup will be a smaller, highly intriguing clash.

When the teams meet at Pepsi Center, it will pit what many believe are the National Hockey League's two best lines against each other: Boston's dynamic trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak vs. Colorado's explosive triumvirate of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen.

BOSTON - After taking a few days to tend to a personal matter, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask rejoined the team on Tuesday and was back on the ice for practice at Warrior Ice Arena. The netminder addressed the media following the session and thanked his teammates and the organization for their support.

"First and foremost, I want to thank all the people who sent messages and contacted me and supported me," said Rask, who was granted a leave of absence last Friday. "Second of all, I want to thank the Boston Bruins for giving me the opportunity to take time off with my family. I've never been more proud to be a part of this family, the Boston Bruins…we talk about it a lot, this is a family, we are a family, and we take care of each other when times are tough."

BOSTON - The Bruins announced on Friday morning that goaltender Tuukka Rask has been granted a leave of absence to deal with a personal matter. General manager Don Sweeney addressed the media following practice at Warrior Ice Arena and said that the leave is not health related and asked that the veteran netminder be given some privacy over the coming days.

"I think it's important for everyone to respect his privacy and allow him to deal with it for the next few days," said Sweeney. "We just felt that it was important [to address] that he'll be away from the team for a few days. If we have an update, accordingly, we certainly will [announce it]."

BOSTON - Brad Marchand has not had much trouble scoring goals over the past few seasons. Three straight 34-plus-goal campaigns elevated him into one of the most feared snipers in the National Hockey League.

Until Tuesday night in Carolina, however, the winger's pace had slowed a bit this season. Marchand was still on a point-per-game pace, notching 11 assists through the Bruins' first 11 games, but had just two goals on the board.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the dip? His lack of shots on net.

BOSTON - David Backes is ready to get back into game action. After two weeks on the shelf with an upper-body injury, it's likely that the veteran forward will return to the lineup on Saturday night in Nashville.

"It appears that way," coach Bruce Cassidy said after practice on Thursday at Warrior Ice Arena. "Talked to him today, felt really good, so barring anything out of the ordinary, he should be good."

BOSTON - Torey Krug is likely to return to the lineup for his 2018-19 regular-season debut on Tuesday as the team hits the road to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.

The defenseman missed the first month of the season after injuring his left ankle in the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Flyers in late September. He began practicing with the team at the end of last week and was questionable ahead of Saturday's game against Montreal but did not end up dressing.

BOSTON - Boston sports fans know a thing or two about rivalries.

It's well-known around the NHL that Bruins fans bring energy to each TD Garden home game, but certain matchups add a little more fuel to that fire.

OTTAWA - For the Bruins, it's starting to feel a bit like déjà vu.

Boston had its share of injuries to key players a year ago, but battled through en route to a 50-win, 112-point season, which left them just shy of the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They reached those heights because they embraced a next-man-up mentality, never doubting their ability to claim 2 points, despite being shorthanded.

BOSTON - The Bruins have logged their share of miles so far this fall.

Their trip around the world for the NHL O.R.G. China Games piled up some 16,000 alone. And they'll be adding plenty more to that total this week when they embark on their first lengthy journey of the regular season for visits to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa.

BOSTON - Patrice Bergeron rarely wants the spotlight. And even though it was shining brightly upon him on Monday afternoon, the Bruins' alternate captain was still trying to go about his business in the shadows.

But that is a difficult task when you are named the NHL's first star of the week.

Bergeron notched four goals and five assists - including his fourth career hat trick in the home opener - in three games from Oct. 8-14, to lead the league in scoring with nine points and pace the Black & Gold to three victories.