The Bruins can make history by becoming the fastest team to 50 wins with a victory over the visiting Edmonton Oilers at TD Garden on Thursday night.
Boston has the opportunity to sweep the season series against Edmonton, but it will need to stop Connor McDavid and the Oilers’ high-powered offense.
McDavid leads the league in scoring with 124 points on 54 goals and 70 assists, while David Pastrnak looks to move closer to his first 50-goal season.
The Bruins are riding a 10-game winning streak, while the Oilers are 5-3-2 over their last 10, beating the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night.
Boston can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Edmonton and some help from the Sabres, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators, who all need to lose in regulation.
Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said the changes the Oilers made to the lineup at the trade deadline will factor into Thursday’s matchup.
“I think they helped themselves a lot,” Montgomery told reporters after Thursday’s morning skate. “(Mattais) Ekholm is one of the elite defensemen in the league offensively. He’s underrated defensively. Everybody knows how good he is.”
Montgomery did not confirm who would start in net. Connor Clifton is expected to be a healthy scratch, with Matt Grzelcyk playing on his opposite side.
Puck drop for Oilers-Bruins is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air on ESPN+ and Hulu.
For now, here are the projected lines and defense pairings for both teams:
BOSTON BRUINS (49-8-5)
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Jake DeBrusk
Pavel Zacha-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
Tyler Bertuzzi-Charlie Coyle-Trent Frederic
A.J. Greer-Tomas Nosek-Garnet Hathaway
Dmitry Orlov-Charlie McAvoy
Hampus Lindholm-Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort-Matt Grzelcyk
TBD
EDMONTON OILERS (35-22-8)
Evander Kane-Connor McDavid-Zach Hyman
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins-Leon Draisaitl-Kailer Yamamoto
Warren Foegele-Nick Bjugstad-Mattias Janmark
Devin Shore-Ryan McLeod-Derek Ryan
Darnell Nurse-Cody Ceci
Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard
Brett Kulak-Vincent Desharnais
Stuart Skinner
