Bruins at Jets preview

BRUINS (47-17-10) at JETS (46-19-10)
8 p.m. ET; TSN3, NESN, NHL.TV

Boston, which clinched a playoff berth March 21, is two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning with two games in hand. The Bruins have won two straight, are 10-2-2 in their past 14 games and have allowed two goals or fewer in four of their past five games.
The Jets, who have won five straight, are in second place in the Central Division, five points behind the Nashville Predators and nine points ahead of the Minnesota Wild, clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Sunday with a 5-4 shootout win against Nashville.

Players to watch

Bruins forward Brad Marchand has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past two games and eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past five games.
Jets forward Blake Wheeler has nine points (two goals, seven assists) during a six-game point streak and needs one point for 600 in his NHL career.

They said it

"They've been all similar games, heavy games, playoff-type games. Swings back and forth, the pendulum goes both ways. I think our group has stuck with it." -- Jets forward Blake Wheeler on Winnipeg's five-game winning streak
"I think we're sticking with the game in front of us, not letting it get away too far from us. We've had different players contribute, for the most part, a lot have been our top-end guys, so you need those guys to be successful." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Ryan Donato
-- David Krejci -- Tommy Wingels
Danton Heinen -- Riley Nash --
Brian Gionta
Tim Schaller -- Sean Kuraly -- Noel Acciari
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Nick Holden -- Adam McQuaid
Matt Grzelcyk -- Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin
Scratched:Jordan Szwarz, Paul Postma
Injured:Rick Nash (upper body), Zdeno Chara (upper body), Jake DeBrusk (upper body), Charlie McAvoy (knee), David Backes (leg laceration)

Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Paul Stastny -- Patrik Laine
Mathieu Perreault -- Andrew Copp -- Bryan Little
Brandon Tanev -- Adam Lowry -- Joel Armia
Josh Morrissey -- Tyler Myers
Ben Chiarot -- Dustin Byfuglien
Tucker Poolman -- Joe Morrow
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Scratched:Shawn Matthias, Marko Dano, Jack Roslovic
Injured: Steve Mason (lower body), Dmitry Kulikov (lower body), Matt Hendricks (lower body), Jacob Trouba (upper body), Toby Enstrom (lower body)

Status report

Backes is on the trip and was on the ice without equipment after the morning skate. … McAvoy, Chara and DeBrusk could return by the weekend. ... Rick Nash is not skating. … Rask is expected to start for the Bruins. Hellebuyck will start for the Jets. … Trouba has been cleared for contact but will not play. … Goalie Michael Hutchinson was sent to Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Tuesday.

Stat pack

Pastrnak has two goals and an assist in his past two games. … Connor has six points (four goals, two assists) during a three-game goal and point streak, including two goals in overtime. ... Little needs one goal for 200 in his NHL career.