Hurricanes at Bruins preview

HURRICANES (19-13-8) at BRUINS (22-10-6)
7 p.m. ET; NESN, FS-CR, NHL.TV

The Bruins, 7-0-2 in their past nine, have won their past two games and have not lost in regulation since a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Dec. 14. Goaltender Anton Khudobin will start for the first time in three games.
The Hurricanes will look for their sixth win in their past eight games; they're 5-1-1 in their past seven. Goaltender Cam Ward is 10-0-2 in his past 12 decisions and has allowed 10 goals in his past six starts.

Players to watch

Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho has a six-game point streak (six goals, four assists).
Bruins forward Danton Heinen has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past 10 games.

They said it

"I liked the plan we came up with. We didn't want to risk not being able to get out and sitting on the plane on the tarmac. Everyone had a good night's sleep. Lots of jump here today and we'll carry it forward into Boston. -- Carolina coach Bill Peters on the Hurricanes staying overnight and practicing in Pittsburgh on Friday because of the weather in Boston
"I think we've upgraded with our young players. No disrespect to who was in the lineup last year, I just think they're good players, good, young players. Some of them were in the lineup at the end of the year, Charlie [McAvoy] and [Sean] Kuraly. So the buy-in is more about the guys that I think last year towards the end of the year believed they could be a successful team and win, win in the playoffs, even though it didn't go our way. I think we just picked up where we left off there." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy

Hurricanes projected lineup

Sebastian Aho -- Jordan Staal -- Teuvo Teravainen
Brock McGinn -- Derek Ryan -- Elias Lindholm
Josh Jooris -- Jeff Skinner -- Phillip Di Giuseppe
Joakim Nordstrom -- Victor Rask -- Justin Williams
Jaccob Slavin -- Brett Pesce
Haydn Fleury -- Justin Faulk
Noah Hanifin -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Cam Ward
Scott Darling
Scratched:Marcus Kruger, Klas Dahlbeck
Injured: Lee Stempniak (lower body), Lucas Wallmark (lower body)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Ryan Spooner
Danton Heinen -- Riley Nash -- David Backes
Tim Schaller -- Sean Kuraly -- Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk -- Kevan Miller
Anton Khudobin
Tuukka Rask
Scratched:Paul Postma, Frank Vatrano
Injured: Adam McQuaid (broken fibula)

Status report

The Hurricanes did not hold a morning skate. Kruger was activated from injured reserve Friday and could play for the first time in five games. ... Rask will start Sunday at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Stat pack

Teravainen has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past six games. ... Backes has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past eight games.