Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm Expecting Tough Game Against Canucks

Boston Bruins head coach Marco Sturm is expecting a tough out on Saturday.

The Bruins are set to host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday at 7 p.m ET. Boston is coming off a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, as the Bruins will look to get back on track as they remain in a playoff spot.

With the Bruins having just three games left before the Christmas break, Sturm said this is a big game for the team.

“They traded their best player, and since then, they’ve played the best hockey,” Sturm said on Saturday morning. “It’s a young group now. They feel free, no pressure. They just go out, work and we’ve got to be ready.

“I think it’s a big game for us. We want to finish (well) before Christmas, so we are going to have some work to do.”

The Canucks enter the game on a three-game winning streak, so Sturm is expecting a tough challenge.

Meanwhile, Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov knows this is a game Boston needs to come out strong to right the wrongs from its loss to the Oilers.

“Mindset doesn’t change,” Zadorov said. “Doesn’t matter what team is out there, we’ve got to try to get the win. Good teams don’t lose two or three in a row.

“I think in this league, if you’re going to be in the mix at the end of the year, you’ve got to do the good homework after the game, know what didn’t go well the game before and just come with an open mindset after that.”

Boston enters play with a record of 20-15-0 and is just outside of a playoff spot.