Head coach Claude Julien pointed out before the season started that a 3-2 record after five games at home isn’t quite as good as 3-2 on the road, but right now his squad will gladly accept such a fate. The Bruins showed great resilience in coming back from a 3-0 deficit and grabbing the two points in the shootout on Saturday, but a 60-minute effort against the Avs would be just what they need to finish the homestand on a high note before they head out on the road.
When and Where
Monday, Oct. 12, 1:00 p.m. ET (NESN)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Bruins (2-2-0), 4 pts. Tied for 3rd in the Northeast Division, Tied for 7th in the Eastern Conference
Avalanche (2-1-1), 5 pts. Tied for 2nd in the Northwest Division, Tied for 5th in the Western Conference
Head to Head
This is the first and only game of the season between the Avalanche and Bruins. Last season the Bruins were 1-0-0 against the Avalanche with a 5-4 win at Colorado in the season opener.
The Bruins lead the all-time series 68-47-15-1.
Skinny
The Bruins are averaging three goals per game and allowing 3.75 goals per game.
The Bruins' power play was 0-for-5 on Saturday and is now just 4-for-24 on the season. They are scoring at a 16.7 percent clip on the man-advantage.
The Bruins' penalty kill looked better Saturday as they killed off six of the Islanders seven power plays. Boston is now killing off penalties at a 73.9 percent clip.
The Avalanche are scoring 3.25 goals per game and allowing two goals per game.
The Avalanche power play is scoring at a 33.3 percent clip this season.
The Avalanche penalty kill has killed off 87.5 percent of the power plays it has faced.
Projected Lineups
Bruins
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Milan Lucic | Marc Savard | Marco Sturm |
| Blake Wheeler | David Krejci | Michael Ryder |
| Mark Recchi | Patrice Bergeron | Chuck Kobasew |
| Shawn Thornton | Steve Begin | Byron Bitz |
| Defenseman | |
|---|---|
| Zdeno Chara | Derek Morris |
| Andrew Ference | Matt Hunwick |
| Mark Stuart | Johnny Boychuk |
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Tim Thomas |
| Tukka Rask |
Avalanche
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Wojtek Wolski | Paul Stastny | Milan Hejduk |
| Cody McLeod | Matt Duchene | Marek Svatos |
| Darcy Tucker | Ryan O'Reilly | Chris Stewart |
| David Koci | TJ Galiardi | Matt Hendricks-TJ Hensick |
| Defenseman | |
|---|---|
| John-Michael Liles | Adam Foote |
| Kyle Quincey | Scott Hannan |
| Kyle Cumiskey | Brett Clark |
| Goaltenders |
|---|
| Craig Anderson |
| Peter Budaj |
Stat Sheet
Bruins
Center Marc Savard (two goals, three assists), leads the Bruins with five points.
Center Steve Begin has four assists.
Winger Marco Sturm (two goals, one assist) has three points.
Defenseman Matt Hunwick (two goals, one assist) also has three points.
Avalanche
Four players are tied for the team lead in points with five:
Forward Milan Hejduk has a goal and four assists.
Forward Wojtek Wolski has four goals and one assist.
Forward Paul Stastny has a goal and four assists.
Defenseman Kyle Quincey has a goal and four helpers.
Goaltender Matchup
Bruins
Tim Thomas is 1-2-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .868 save percentage.
Tuukka Rask is 1-0-0 with a 2.77 GAA and .921 save percentage.
Avalanche
Craig Anderson is 2-1-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .942 save percentage
Peter Budaj has yet to start a game.
Black and Blue
Bruins
Defenseman Dennis Wideman is day-to-day with a shoulder injury and will miss Monday’s game.
Avalanche
Forward David Jones is out two to four weeks with a bruised chest.
Defenseman Tom Preissing is on injured reserve after arthroscopic knee surgery.
Forward Brandon Yip is on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury.
This Date In Bruins History
Bruin forward Vladimir “Rosie” Ruzicka had a hat trick in a 6-3 win over Ottawa on October 12, 1992.
Overheard
“We were hearing a lot of boos there tonight. It doesn’t feel good. So we went out there and got the cheers back.’’
— Center Marc Savard who scored the game-winning shootout goal.
Press Box
Bruins
Dennis Wideman will miss Monday’s game with a shoulder injury and Johnny Boychuk will make his season debut.
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli isn’t happy with his team’s start.
Avalanche
The Avalanche are coming off a shootout too, a 4-3 loss in the ninth round of a shootout with Chicago.
Matt Duchene, the third overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft got some advice from the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, Patrick Kane. No it wasn’t on how much to tip a cab driver!
NHL
The Canucks have lost Daniel Sedin for possibly up to six weeks.
No longer wearing the “C”, Sharks forward Patrick Marleau seems stronger and faster.
Sid The Kid unplugged.
Outlook
To say the Bruins have been an enigma in their first four games this season would be an understatement, but they have a chance to shed a little light on the picture if they can beat the upstart Avalanche. Colorado has been one of the pleasant surprises of this young NHL season so that won’t be an easy feat. But then again, none of them are easy and that may be what this Bruins team needs to learn.
Boston needs to get back to basics and a good “road” game before they head out on a two-game road trip may be the elixir to get them back on track and build some more momentum.
