Luongo has missed the past six games, including the first five of the Panthers' eight-game homestand because of a knee injury sustained in a 4-1 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 23. The Panthers are 2-1-2 on the homestand following a 5-4 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Goalie Jaroslav Halak will start for the Bruins, who have lost two of three (1-2-0) since a 3-0-2 stretch.
Players to watch
Bruins forward David Pastrnak has four points (two goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak after he had one point in his previous five games. Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has 11 points (two goals, nine assists) during a five-game multipoint streak.
They said it
"It'd be nice to have our whole team together at some point this year, but I think for now we're doing a pretty good job of continuing to get points and finding ways to win." -- Bruins forward Brad Marchand "I like the way he's hunting pucks and his decision-making. You can see he's got some pop in his legs, he's got some confidence." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner on Jonathan Huberdeau
McAvoy took part in the morning skate but will miss his 20th game because of a concussion. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said it was unlikely McAvoy would return against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday but didn't rule it out. … Malgin has been cleared to play after missing four games with an upper-body injury but won't play. ... The Panthers sent goalie Michael Hutchinson to Springfield of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
Stat pack
Krejci needs one point to tie Cam Neely for 10th place on the Bruins all-time scoring list (590). … Boston has outshot its opponent five times in its past six games and been tied once. … Florida has a 35.1 percent success rate (20-for-57) on the power play since Nov. 1, which ranks second in the NHL during that span, behind the Colorado Avalanche (41.5 percent). … Dadonov has a three-game goal streak.
