Bruins at Senators preview

BRUINS (20-4-6) at SENATORS (12-17-1)
7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, NESN, NHL.TV

The center missed the past seven games with a lower-body injury. He has 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 21 games this season.
Goalie Tuukka Rask will start for the Bruins. He is 6-0-1 with a 2.13 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in his past seven games.
The Senators are 1-6-0 in their past seven games after going 5-1-0 in their previous six. Goalie Anders Nilsson will start for Ottawa. He is 0-4-0 with a 4.77 GAA and .826 save percentage in his past four games.

Players to watch

Bruins forward David Krejci has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games.
Senators forward Anthony Duclair has four points (three goals, one assist) during a three-game point streak.

They said it

"[We need to] get through the neutral zone. We had a tough time, I think we had maybe three scoring chances though two periods. We weren't on our game offensively, so that's part of it. Playing behind their [defensemen], if that's what's available, get some late speed if we're able to make some plays through there, that's Step 1." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on what they need to improve on after being outshot 34-21 in Ottawa on Nov. 27
"I think the model that the Bruins have is one of the best, if not the best in the League when it comes to their elite players, how hard they play and the leadership they provide." -- Senators coach D.J. Smith

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Danton Heinen
Anders Bjork -- Charlie Coyle -- Brett Ritchie
Joakim Nordstrom -- Sean Kuraly -- Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
John Moore -- Matt Grzelcyk
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:Connor Clifton, Par Lindholm, David Backes
Injured: Kevan Miller (knee), Zach Senyshyn (lower body), Karson Kuhlman (fractured tibia)

Senators projected lineup

Brady Tkachuk -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Connor Brown
Tyler Ennis -- Artem Anisimov -- Colin White
Vladislav Namestnikov -- Chris Tierney -- Anthony Duclair
Nicholas Paul -- Logan Brown -- Jonathan Davidsson
Thomas Chabot -- Dylan DeMelo
Mark Borowiecki -- Nikita Zaitsev
Ron Hainsey -- Max Lajoie
Anders Nilsson
Marcus Hogberg
Scratched: Mikkel Boedker, Cody Goloubef
Injured: Scott Sabourin (nose), Craig Anderson (knee)

Status report

Though Bergeron is expected to play all four games on the road trip, he will be reassessed by the Bruins medical staff after the game. … Anderson is projected to be out one week, Smith said. … The Senators recalled Hogberg from Belleville of the American Hockey League.

Stat pack

The Bruins are 9-1-4 in their past 14 games. … Ennis leads all Senators skaters in assists (13) and points (18), and is tied with Pageau in goals (five), against Boston.