The Bruins, 17-5-0 in their past 22 games, are six points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic Division with three games in hand, and five ahead of the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs with four games in hand. The Flyers, 0-3-1 in their past four games following a six-game winning streak, are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the second-place Washington Capitals and three ahead of the New Jersey Devils.
Players to watch
Flyers forward Claude Giroux has five points (one goal, four assists) in a four-game point streak. Bruins forward Brad Marchand has eight points (four goals, four assists) in a three-game point streak.
They said it
"I don't think we have concern on our power play. It's going to be like that sometimes during the season. … we can only be better [Thursday], prepare for the game and how good Boston is playing these days." -- Flyers forward Jakub Voracek on the Philadelphia power play, 1-for-19 in the past six games "With Tuukka we've always talked about trying to define the number of starts he gets ... around 58, give or take a couple. I think we're on target to not be over that. -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on monitoring the use of goaltender Tuukka Rask down the stretch
Lyon will start for the first time in eight games. ... Rask starts after two games backing up because of a minor lower-body injury. ... Wingels will replace Backes, who will serve the first game of his three-game suspension for a hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen on Wednesday.
Stat pack
Couturier is one goal shy of 100 in his NHL career. ... Krug has nine points (three goals, six assists) in a four-game point streak.
