GAME OFFICIALS
(We hit the Daily Double)
Referees Chris Rooney (5), Wes McCauley (4)
Linesmen Tony Sericolo (84), Kory Nagy (97)
Ntl. Anthem David Tyler
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Bruins host the Devils tonight in the 1st of 3 games between these teams this season and the 1st of 2 games at TD Garden this year … The Bruins are 20-13-4 this season and are 13-4-0 on home ice … They are 4-3-0 vs. Metropolitan Division opponents and are 13-9-1 vs. Eastern Conference foes.
The Bruins are playing their final home game of 2018 tonight … They will conclude the calendar year in BUF on 12/29 & will then open 2019 playing CHI at Notre Dame on 1/1 in the NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic.
MILESTONES APPROACHING
Jake DeBrusk & Matt Grzelcyk are both 2 games short of their 100th NHL games.
Tuukka Rask is 2 games shy of his 469th NHL/Bruins game, which will be the most by a goaltender in team history.
Zdeno Chara is 2 goals shy of his 200th NHL goal … He will become just the 21st defenseman in NHL history to reach that milestone.
INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2018-19: 146)
Kevan Miller: Cartilage injury to larynx suffered 11/26 at TOR BOSTON vs
BOSTON vs NEW JERSEY, LIFETIME SERIES
The Bruins and Devils are meeting for the 156th time in their histories (includes New Jersey as Kansas City & Colorado) with the Bruins having an 85-41-19-10 record and a 516-411 scoring advantage in those games.
The Bruins are 46-19-8-6 lifetime in 79 home games vs. the Devils franchise with a 282-222 scoring edge in those contests.
The Bruins have won their last 4 games vs. the Devils, with their last loss of this series a 3-0 road setback on 1/2/2017, & they are 10- 2-0 in their last 12 & 22-5-0 in their last 27 games overall vs. New Jersey … They have won their last 6 games in Boston with their last home loss a 4-3 setback on 10/26/2013, & they are 12-1-1 in their last 14 home games of this lifetime series.
Fun Fact: The Bruins are 32-21-6-4 vs. the Devils since they relocated to New Jersey in 1982 … 16 of the last 19 games between these teams have been decided by 2 goals or less, including 13 1-goal decisions.
