Bruins try to start new streak versus Panthers
The Boston Bruins will try to rebound from their first place clubs.
The Bruins were dealt a 2-1 setback Tuesday in Winnipeg, marking Boston's first regulation loss since losing to Montreal on Oct. 29. Boston was 14-0-1 between that loss to the Habs and the recent defeat against the Jets.
Ondrej Pavelec frustrated the Bruins with 39 saves on Tuesday and Bryan Little scored the winner early in the third. Shawn Thornton scored the lone goal while Tuukka Rask made 33 saves in the loss for Boston, which also had a six- game road winning streak snapped.
"It's one of those nights where it was tough to score and we got to turn the page here and move on," said Boston head coach Claude Julien. "I liked the effort and it was a tough night where the bounces didn't really go our way and we just have to turn the page and probably play the next game."
The Bruins played the game without leading scorer Tyler Seguin, who was scratched from the lineup for arriving late to a team breakfast. The 19-year- old Seguin, who is pacing Boston in both goals (13) and points (25), will be back in the lineup tonight.
Boston, which leads the Northeast Division by two points over Toronto, is 8-0-1 in its last nine home games. The last time the Bruins were unable to record a point in a home game was in a 2-1 loss to Montreal on Oct. 27.
Florida holds a six-point lead over Winnipeg for the Southeast Division lead and has won in two straight and three of its last four trips to the ice. The Panthers recorded a 5-4 win over the visiting Washington Capitals on Monday, holding off a late charge by the Caps to hold on for the victory.
Stephen Weiss had two goals and an assist, while Dmitry Kulikov added a goal and two assists for the Panthers. Mike Santorelli and Sean Bergenheim also lit the lamp for Florida.
"I don't know about a statement game but it was an important game for us coming off that trip," said Weiss, whose team was coming off a 2-2 road trip. "We wanted to have a good game. It doesn't matter who you're playing."
Scott Clemmensen got the start in place of a flu-ridden Jose Theodore and made 28 saves in the win. Theodore is questionable for this evening's test as well.
Mikael Samuelsson could be back on the ice for the first time since mid- October tonight. The veteran forward had one goal and two assists in six games before undergoing hernia surgery.
The Panthers had just completed a four-game road trip before returning to Sunrise for Monday's home tilt, but Florida is kicking off a three-game swing tonight. The Cats are 9-6-0 as the road team this season.
Boston won all four meetings with the Panthers last year and has taken six of seven overall in the series. Florida has lost in two straight and four of its last six trips to Beantown.