DEVILS (12-16-4) vs BRUINS (17-8-5)
TV:NBCSN AT 5:30 PM ET
Head-to-Head:
Sunday marks the fifth of eight meetings this season between the two teams. The Devils hold a 3-0-1 edge on the season, including a 1-0 shutout victory in the previous matchup at Boston March 7 that saw goaltender Scott Wedgewood stop all 40 shots against.
Devils Team Scope:
After a strong run of 4-1-1, New Jersey has dropped its last two games, both against the Washington Capitals. New Jersey was shutout for the first time this season Friday night in a 4-0 loss at Washington, which saw goaltender Ilya Samsonov stop all 24 shots against.
The Devils will finish up a season-long six-game road trip with two games in Boston. New Jersey, which is a respectable 8-5-2 away from home this year, has a 2-2 record on the current road swing.
Bruins Team Scope:
While the Devils are living life on the road, the Bruins will see New Jersey in Game No. 3 of a seven-game homestand. Boston is also playing the Devils on the second half of a back-to-back days after a 3-2 victory against Buffalo Saturday afternoon.
The Bruins will be without goaltender Tuukka Rask for Sunday's game with an upper-body injury. The Devils can expect to see Jaroslav Halak, as Dan Vladar started Saturday against Buffalo.
The availability of Brad Marchand (COVID protocol) is also in question. He missed Saturday's contest. Forwards Jake DeBrusk and Sean Kuraly remain in protocol while David Krejci, David Pastrnak and Craig Smith are back in action after spending five days on the protocol last week.
The Bruins did get some help in the health department as defenseman Jeremy Lauzon returned to the lineup Saturday after a fractured hand kept him in the stands since Feb. 16. Zach Senyshyn (upper-body) also returned Saturday. Defenseman Jared Tinordi (upper-body) was back in the lineup Thursdayl, though was scratched Saturday.
By the Numbers:
Boston has one of the NHL's best special teams with both the penalty kill (1st, 89.5%) and power play (7th, 25%) ranking among the league's best. The Bruins boast the NHL's fifth-best defense with a 2.34 goals-against average (heading into Saturday's game), but their offense ranks a meager 21st (2.69).
Injury Update:
Devils:Bastian (lower-body), Hischier (frontal sinus fracture).
Bruins:Carlo (upper-body), DeBrusk (COVID protocol), Kase (upper-body), Kuhlman (left hand), Kuraly (COVID protocol), Marchand (COVID protocol), Miller (knee), Moore (labral injury), Rask (upper-body).