This is a big game for both teams, The Bruins need to keep Buffalo within hailing distance and the Sabres are only a point behind Toronto.
Tonight's Officials
Referees Wes McCauley (4), TJ Luxmore (21)
Linesmen Steve Barton (59), Derek Amell (75)
Ntl. Anthem Sarah Kostecki
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Bruins host the Sabres tonight in the 2nd of 4 games between these teams this season and the 1st of 2 at TD Garden this year … The Bruins are 17-11-4 this season and are 11-3-0 on home ice … They are 8-5-1 vs. Atlantic Division opponents and are 12-7-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.
The Bruins open tonight their 7th of 14 sets of back-to-back games this season … They are currently 3-2-1 in the 1st game of those sets and are 5-0-1 in the 2nd games so far.
The Bruins are playing game 2 tonight of their 8th of 17 sets of 3-games-in-4-nights this season, as they played in Pittsburgh on 12/14 (5-3 loss) & will play in Montreal on 12/17 … They are 2-5-1 in game 1s, 5-0-2 in game 2s and 5-1-1 in game 3s of those series this season.
MILESTONES APPROACHING
Torey Krug is 1 assist shy of 199 Bruins assists, which will be the most by a US-born player in team history & he is 2 assists shy of his 200th NHL assist.
David Backes is 3 assists short of his 300th NHL assist.
David Krejci is 3 points shy of his 600th NHL point.
Jake DeBrusk is 2 games short of his 100th NHL game.
Tuukka Rask is 4 games shy of his 469th NHL/Bruins game, which will be the most by a goaltender in team history.
Matt Grzelcyk is 7 games shy of his 100th NHL game.
Tuukka Rask is 7 wins short of his 253rd Bruins/NHL win, which will be the most by a goaltender in team history.
INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2018-19: 125)
Patrice Bergeron: Rib injury suffered 11/16 at DAL (IR)
Zdeno Chara: Lower body injury suffered 11/14 at COL (IR)
Jake DeBrusk: In concussion protocol
Kevan Miller: Cartilage injury to larynx suffered 11/26 at TOR (IR)
Urho Vaakanainen: Concussion suffered 10/23 at OTT (IR)
BOSTON vs BUFFALO, LIFETIME SERIES
The Bruins and Sabres are meeting for the 291st time in their histories with the Bruins having a 137-112-29-12 record and 933-915 scoring edge in those games.
The Bruins are 79-45-14-5 lifetime in Buffalo with a 509-417 scoring advantage in those 143 contests.
The Bruins are 9-2-1 in their last 12 games vs. the Sabres, including a 4-0 win in Buffalo on 10/4 in the 1st game of this season’s series, & they are 14-3-3 in their last 20 games overall vs. Buffalo … They are 6-2-3 in their last 11 home games vs. the Sabres. - Fun Fact: The Bruins have gone to more shootouts (13) vs. the Sabres than any other opponent.
Tonight's Officials
Referees Wes McCauley (4), TJ Luxmore (21)
Linesmen Steve Barton (59), Derek Amell (75)
Ntl. Anthem Sarah Kostecki
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Bruins host the Sabres tonight in the 2nd of 4 games between these teams this season and the 1st of 2 at TD Garden this year … The Bruins are 17-11-4 this season and are 11-3-0 on home ice … They are 8-5-1 vs. Atlantic Division opponents and are 12-7-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.
The Bruins open tonight their 7th of 14 sets of back-to-back games this season … They are currently 3-2-1 in the 1st game of those sets and are 5-0-1 in the 2nd games so far.
The Bruins are playing game 2 tonight of their 8th of 17 sets of 3-games-in-4-nights this season, as they played in Pittsburgh on 12/14 (5-3 loss) & will play in Montreal on 12/17 … They are 2-5-1 in game 1s, 5-0-2 in game 2s and 5-1-1 in game 3s of those series this season.
MILESTONES APPROACHING
Torey Krug is 1 assist shy of 199 Bruins assists, which will be the most by a US-born player in team history & he is 2 assists shy of his 200th NHL assist.
David Backes is 3 assists short of his 300th NHL assist.
David Krejci is 3 points shy of his 600th NHL point.
Jake DeBrusk is 2 games short of his 100th NHL game.
Tuukka Rask is 4 games shy of his 469th NHL/Bruins game, which will be the most by a goaltender in team history.
Matt Grzelcyk is 7 games shy of his 100th NHL game.
Tuukka Rask is 7 wins short of his 253rd Bruins/NHL win, which will be the most by a goaltender in team history.
INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2018-19: 125)
Patrice Bergeron: Rib injury suffered 11/16 at DAL (IR)
Zdeno Chara: Lower body injury suffered 11/14 at COL (IR)
Jake DeBrusk: In concussion protocol
Kevan Miller: Cartilage injury to larynx suffered 11/26 at TOR (IR)
Urho Vaakanainen: Concussion suffered 10/23 at OTT (IR)
BOSTON vs BUFFALO, LIFETIME SERIES
The Bruins and Sabres are meeting for the 291st time in their histories with the Bruins having a 137-112-29-12 record and 933-915 scoring edge in those games.
The Bruins are 79-45-14-5 lifetime in Buffalo with a 509-417 scoring advantage in those 143 contests.
The Bruins are 9-2-1 in their last 12 games vs. the Sabres, including a 4-0 win in Buffalo on 10/4 in the 1st game of this season’s series, & they are 14-3-3 in their last 20 games overall vs. Buffalo … They are 6-2-3 in their last 11 home games vs. the Sabres. - Fun Fact: The Bruins have gone to more shootouts (13) vs. the Sabres than any other opponent.