Preview: Bruins Host Kraken As Both Teams Look To Stay Hot

A battle of conferences, the Boston Bruins will host the Seattle Kraken tonight in an east vs. west matchup. Both teams have been red hot lately and look to stay that way with a win tonight. The Bruins have the best record in the NHL and are riding a four-game win streak. The Kraken are in playoff contention in just their second season as a franchise and come into the matchup riding a six-game win streak of their own.

This will be a clash of veterans vs. rising stars, as both teams have talented lineups that should put on a show for the crowd at TD Garden.

The Bruins are led by 19-year veteran and captain Patrice Bergeron, who will undoubtedly have his team prepared after sweeping a three-game road trip on the west coast. The Bruins are playing their best hockey at the moment, as they are getting production from all over the lineup.

The Kraken enter the matchup led by 20-year-old rising superstar Matty Beniers, who is looking to extend the Kraken’s six-game win streak. Beniers has been fabulous for the Kraken in his first full season in the NHL, as he is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy. It will

Boston Bruins Projected Lineup

Forwards

Marchand – Bergeron – Smith

Zacha – Krejci – Pastrnak

Hall – Coyle – Frederic

Folgino – Koppanen – Nosek

Defense

Grzelcyk – McAvoy

Lindholm – Carlo

Forbort – Clifton

Goalies

Ullmark

Swayman

Seattle Kraken Projected Lineup

Forwards

Burakovsky – Beniers – Eberle

Schwartz – Wennberg – McCann

Tolvanen – Gourde – Bjorkstrand

Tanev – Donato – Sprong

Defense

Larsson – Dunn

Oleksiak – Schultz

Soucy – Borgen

Goalies

Jones

Grubauer

Players To Watch

David Pastrnak

The Bruins’ best goal scorer has been on another level this season, as he currently sits second in the NHL with 32 goals. Pasta is red hot coming into this matchup after lighting it up on the Bruins’ recent three-game west coast road trip. Pastrnak started the trip off by scoring two goals against the Los Angles Kings before netting another two goals against the San Jose Sharks. He concluded the road trip by registering a hat trick during their matchup with the Anaheim Ducks, which was the 13th hat trick of his career. Overall he finished the trip with seven goals and eight points. Pastrnak looks to continue his success tonight in front of the home crowd at TD Garden.

Matty Beniers

Beniers has been a primary key to the Kraken offense throughout their winning streak, as he’s scored a goal in five straight games and has added four assists during the stretch. The 20-year-old center is the anchor of the Kraken’s top line and can be a difference-maker in this matchup, especially if the goalies keep it a close game. The Calder Trophy favorite has tallied 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 point through 40 games.

Brad Marchand

After recovering from off-season hip surgery, Marchand finally looks like himself again on the ice. From his pesky antics to his offensive abilities, Marchand is hitting his stride midseason. Marchand is riding a three-game goal streak heading into tonight’s matchup, as he’s starting to regain his scoring touch. It’s not just his scoring that has seen an uptick but his play-making ability,too, as he’s on a six-game-point streak comprising four goals and six assists for 10 points. With the recent loss of Jake DeBrusk, having Marchand playing at the top of his game is a blessing for the Bruins as he takes over the load left behind by his linemate. On the season, Marchand now has 13 goals and 24 assists for 37 points in only 32 games.

Eeli Tolvanen

The third line winger has been a tremendous addition to the Settle Kraken. He was claimed off waivers a month ago and made his Kraken debut six games ago. He has been a key to their secondary scoring and a welcome addition on their power play. In his six games he’s accounted for three goals, two assists and five points while having a plus-6 rating. Most importantly the Kraken have won all six games Tolvanen has played in.

Puck drop will take place at 7 PM EST at TD Garden. The Bruins enter the matchup the favorite with -250 odds and the over/under is set at 6.

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