Struggling sophomore David Pastrnak is still out of the lineup with a foot injury. Photo credit: Maddie Meyer, Getty Images
The Bruins (as predicted) are having an up-and-down season. After losing three in a row to Dallas, the hated Canadiens, and the Capitals, the Bruins have won two out of the last three and definitely could have won three out of three. Their last game was an impressive 3-1 win where the Bruins did all the right things - well, they didn't score on the power play, but they were only one opportunity, so I can't really blame them. Besides, it's just one game. The point is, the Bruins have been doing a decent job in their last few games and can replicate the good things they did against Detroit and do it against San Jose.
The Sharks are 9-8-0 and are none too happy after having a 4-0 record turn into 5-8 in their last 13 games. They managed to eke out a tough 2-1 win in OT against Buffalo (you read that right - Buffalo) to get back above .500, but Sharks fans are panicking. The team was projected to challenge for the title in a weak Pacific but instead are just outside the top three. A bright spot has been Brent Burns, whose 12 points lead Sharks D-men and whose five goals have him tied for second in the league in scoring from the blueline.
LINE COMBOS (Boston)
Matt Beleskey-Patrice Bergeron-Brett Connolly
Frank Vatrano-David Krejci-Loui Eriksson
Brad Marchand-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo-Joonas Kemppainen-Tyler Randell
Zdeno Chara-Zach Trotman
Dennis Seidenberg-Kevan Miller
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Jonas Gustavsson
Scratches: Colin Miller, Zach Trotman
LINE COMBOS (San Jose)
Melker Karlsson-Joe Thornton-Joe Pavelski
Nikolay Goldobin-Patrick Marleau-Joel Ward
Joonas Donskoi-Tomas Hertl-Tommy Wingels
Michael Haley-Chris Tierney-Mike Brown
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Justin Braun
Paul Martin-Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon-Mirco Mueller
Martin Jones
Alex Stalock
Scratches: Matt Nieto, Ben Smith, Matt Tennyson
INJURY REPORT
In Boston, sophomore David Pastrnak (who won the Seventh Player Award as the most surprising player last year after bursting into the league with 27 points in 46 games and impressing management, pundits, and fans alike. The injury is reported to be a small crack in his foot that shouldn't take to long to recover from. Still, his loss from the lineup will be felt. Rookie rearguard Colin Miller may or may not play. The Bruins have yet to disclose his injury, but he will be a game-time decision. There is also a possibility that even if Miller is healthy, he will be scratched.
In San Jose, Logan Couture has been placed on injured reserve after breaking a leg during practice in October and will be out for another week or so. Last year, Couture posted a career-high 40 assists and finished second on the team in scoring. With his injury, the Sharks offense immediately took a sizeable hit, though the Sharks still have formidable threats such as Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau.
FLYING HIGH
Patrice Bergeron
There's not much to say about Bergeron that I haven't said already at this point. 5 points in his last five games and 16 points in 16 games on the season will tell you all you need to know.
Martin Jones
Though four goals on 21 shots and two goals on three shots against Columbus and the Islanders, respectively, have slowed Jones down, he still boasts an impressive .923 save percentage and has a .949 save percentage in the two games since his disastrous performance against the Islanders.
The Sharks are 9-8-0 and are none too happy after having a 4-0 record turn into 5-8 in their last 13 games. They managed to eke out a tough 2-1 win in OT against Buffalo (you read that right - Buffalo) to get back above .500, but Sharks fans are panicking. The team was projected to challenge for the title in a weak Pacific but instead are just outside the top three. A bright spot has been Brent Burns, whose 12 points lead Sharks D-men and whose five goals have him tied for second in the league in scoring from the blueline.
LINE COMBOS (Boston)
Matt Beleskey-Patrice Bergeron-Brett Connolly
Frank Vatrano-David Krejci-Loui Eriksson
Brad Marchand-Ryan Spooner-Jimmy Hayes
Zac Rinaldo-Joonas Kemppainen-Tyler Randell
Zdeno Chara-Zach Trotman
Dennis Seidenberg-Kevan Miller
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Jonas Gustavsson
Scratches: Colin Miller, Zach Trotman
LINE COMBOS (San Jose)
Melker Karlsson-Joe Thornton-Joe Pavelski
Nikolay Goldobin-Patrick Marleau-Joel Ward
Joonas Donskoi-Tomas Hertl-Tommy Wingels
Michael Haley-Chris Tierney-Mike Brown
Marc-Edouard Vlasic-Justin Braun
Paul Martin-Brent Burns
Brenden Dillon-Mirco Mueller
Martin Jones
Alex Stalock
Scratches: Matt Nieto, Ben Smith, Matt Tennyson
INJURY REPORT
In Boston, sophomore David Pastrnak (who won the Seventh Player Award as the most surprising player last year after bursting into the league with 27 points in 46 games and impressing management, pundits, and fans alike. The injury is reported to be a small crack in his foot that shouldn't take to long to recover from. Still, his loss from the lineup will be felt. Rookie rearguard Colin Miller may or may not play. The Bruins have yet to disclose his injury, but he will be a game-time decision. There is also a possibility that even if Miller is healthy, he will be scratched.
In San Jose, Logan Couture has been placed on injured reserve after breaking a leg during practice in October and will be out for another week or so. Last year, Couture posted a career-high 40 assists and finished second on the team in scoring. With his injury, the Sharks offense immediately took a sizeable hit, though the Sharks still have formidable threats such as Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau.
FLYING HIGH
Patrice Bergeron
There's not much to say about Bergeron that I haven't said already at this point. 5 points in his last five games and 16 points in 16 games on the season will tell you all you need to know.
Martin Jones
Though four goals on 21 shots and two goals on three shots against Columbus and the Islanders, respectively, have slowed Jones down, he still boasts an impressive .923 save percentage and has a .949 save percentage in the two games since his disastrous performance against the Islanders.