Bruins at Penguins preview

BRUINS (42-17-9) at PENGUINS (36-23-9)
7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS, NHL.TV

Boston is 15-0-4 in its past 19 games, has won six in a row and has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of its past 11. The longest point streak in Bruins history is 23 games (15-0 with eight ties) in 1940-41.
A seven-game winning streak would equal the Bruins' longest this season set from Feb. 9-20. They are second in the Eastern Conference, 15 points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and four ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Penguins are 8-3-2 in their past 13 games, including 4-1-2 in their past seven. They hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the East, two points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens.

Players to watch

Bruins forward Brad Marchand has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during a six-game point streak and 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in his past 16 games.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past seven games and 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in his past 26. He had a six-game goal streak end in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday.

They said it

"It just seems like now, every game's close. It could go either way. We're finding a way to win." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy
"We have to be better at the details. ... It's execution and attention to detail. When we get away from it, we're not as good." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom -- David Krejci -- Lee Stempniak
Peter Cehlarik -- Charlie Coyle -- David Backes
Sean Kuraly -- Noel Acciari -- Chris Wagner
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
John Moore -- Matt Grzelcyk
Jaroslav Halak
Tuukka Rask
Scratched:Steven Kampfer
Injured:Kevan Miller (upper body), Marcus Johansson (lung contusion), Jake DeBrusk (lower body), David Patrnak (thumb)

Penguins projected lineup

Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Dominik Simon
Zach Aston-Reese -- Evgeni Malkin -- Phil Kessel
Jared McCann -- Nick Bjugstad -- Patric Hornqvist
Teddy Blueger -- Matt Cullen -- Garrett Wilson
Brian Dumoulin -- Zach Trotman
Jack Johnson -- Justin Schultz
Marcus Pettersson -- Erik Gudbranson
Matt Murray
Casey DeSmith
Scratched:Juuso Riikola
Injured:Olli Maatta (upper body), Bryan Rust (lower body), Kris Letang (upper body), Chad Ruhwedel (upper body)

Status report

Halak will start for the Bruins after Rask made 17 saves in a 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. ... Letang could miss a seventh straight game. The Penguins did not hold a morning skate Sunday and he has yet to take full contact.

Stat pack

The Bruins are 11-2-3 in their past 16 games against the Penguins. ... Malkin needs two points to reach 1,000 in the NHL.