The defenseman left a 6-3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Boston on Saturday after a hit by forward Zach Hyman at 9:45 of the third period. He missed 20 games Oct. 20-Dec. 4 with a concussion. Goalie Mike McKenna will start for the Senators after Craig Anderson made 35 saves in a 2-1 overtime win at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. McKenna is 1-1-0 with a 4.66 goals-against average and .879 save percentage in five games (two starts) this season. Goalie Tuukka Rask likely will start for Boston after Jaroslav Halak made 29 saves against Toronto. Rask is 6-6-2 with a 2.63 GAA and .914 save percentage in 14 games (13 starts) this season.
Players to watch
Bruins forward David Pastrnak has eight points (three goals, five assists) in the past six games. Senators forward Mark Stone has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in the past seven games.
They said it
"It's been frustrating because we've been playing pretty good hockey. We've been getting a lot of opportunities; just a lot of posts, just an inch to the left, an inch to the right. It just kind of seemed like everything was kind of bouncing our way last year, and early on here we haven't had the best of puck luck. This is sometimes what you need to find that offensive game." -- Bruins forward Brad Marchand on their 6-3 win against the Maple Leafs "You can't worry about what you don't have; you have to worry about what you do have. And what we have in here is we've got 20 guys willing to pay the price for each other to go out there and try and win hockey games." -- Senators goalie Craig Anderson on defeating the Penguins after forwards Matt Duchene and Bobby Ryan were placed on injured reserve earlier Saturday
McAvoy returned to the Bruins bench but did not play again after the hit by Hyman. "I suppose until tomorrow comes and he wakes up, we're all going to be a little bit on pins and needles," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said, "but he was cleared to come back."
Stat pack
The Bruins have scored two goals or fewer in nine of their past 11 games.
