Bruins at Flyers preview

BRUINS (26-15-5) at FLYERS (17-23-6)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN

Boston forward Peter Cehlarik will make his season debut. The 23-year-old will replace veteran David Backes in the lineup. Cehlarik has four points (one goal, three assists) in 17 NHL games the past two seasons, including two points (one goal, one assist) in six games last season. He has 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 37 games this season with Providence of the American Hockey League. Backes has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 38 games this season.
The Flyers, who won 7-4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday, will try to win consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 18-20.

Players to watch

Bruins forward David Krejci has scored a goal in three consecutive games.
Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk had a hat trick Monday, and has seven points (five goals, two assists) during a three-game point streak.

They said it

"I think my pace is better than before, puck plays are better. Just want to prove it now." -- Bruins forward Peter Cehlarik
"Obviously that top line is huge for [the Bruins]. To keep them off the scoreboard obviously gets things going the right way. We're going to need everybody going. That's not going to change game to game. We're going to need all our players going to compete with every team." -- Flyers coach Scott Gordon

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Peter Cehlarik -- David Krejci -- Jake DeBrusk
Sean Kuraly -- Noel Acciari -- Chris Wagner
Danton Heinen -- Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson -- Ryan Donato
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk -- Kevan Miller
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:John Moore, Steven Kampfer, David Backes
Injured: Joakim Nordstrom (fractured fibula)

Flyers projected lineup

James van Riemsdyk -- Claude Giroux -- Travis Konecny
Oskar Lindblom -- Sean Couturier -- Jakub Voracek
Scott Laughton -- Nolan Patrick -- Wayne Simmonds
Jori Lehtera -- Phil Varone -- Michael Raffl
Ivan Provorov -- Travis Sanheim
Shayne Gostisbehere -- Andrew MacDonald
Robert Hagg -- Radko Gudas
Carter Hart
Mike McKenna
Scratched: Dale Weise, Christian Folin
Injured: Corban Knight (collarbone), Brian Elliott (lower body), Anthony Stolarz (lower body), Michal Neuvirth (lower body)

Status report

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Backes and Moore could play against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. ... Weise, who was placed on waivers Tuesday, will be scratched for the second straight game.

Stat pack

Marchand has eight points (five goals, three assists) in his past seven games. ... Chara is two goals from becoming the 21st NHL defenseman with 200. ... Couturier has six points (one goal, five assists) during a four-game point streak ... Giroux is one assist from 500 in the NHL.