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This was the scene of the crime last season.
A Western Canada swing that began the ultimate downfall of the 2014-15 Boston Bruins. Of course, that trip began in the reverse order of this one (Vancouver was first up and Edmonton was last a year ago), but the Black and Gold’s season was essentially defined by their shortcomings of that trip. Just take a look at how the three-game tour of Canada went for the Bruins: They wanted to start Malcolm Subban against the league-worst Edmonton Oilers, but lost the first two games in Vancouver and Calgary, and thus felt forced to start Tuukka Rask in net. (They still lost.)
And while this trip comes in early December versus late February, which of course means that it has less bearing on where this group will ultimately finish the season, you can’t help but feel as if this trip has a totally different vibe. Dare you even say a positive one with the B’s simply rolling right now.
With wins in five straight contests the Bruins are, above everything else, finding ways to win games.
You can make the case that the team had no business winning their road victories against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, and maybe even the New York game on Friday. But there’s a definite never-say-die attitude that’s coming out within this group -- from first-year guys to veteran leaders -- that’s beginning to make up the club’s identity just over a quarter of the way into the year.
“This is a hard-working team, I think the attitude of this group is they want to do well,… B’s head coach Claude Julien said. after last Friday’s comeback victory over the New York Rangers “It’s a lot of fun to coach these guys because there is a mixture of veterans, there is a mixture of leadership and also a mixture of new faces and young players as well. There’s a lot that has changed in our group and just to see it grow is what’s fun for a coach as long as you’re heading in the right direction.…
And a win against the Rangers, undoubtedly one of the best teams in the league, should serve as a launching point for a roll, especially with a visit to the league-worst Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place.
“We have a good team,… Boston top-liner David Krejci said. “Sometimes we have a tough night, but we really believe in each other in here, and it’s starting to show. Even some games maybe we don’t deserve to win, but we’re finding ways to win the game. Five in a row, that’s a good roll.…
The Bruins had four five-game winning streaks a year ago, but failed to extend it to six all four times.
Meanwhile, Edmonton’s win over the Bruins in their last head-to-head was their first since Oct. 2000.
The Bruins are expected to give this start to starter Tuukka Rask. The 28-year-old comes into play with wins in three straight starts, and wins in five of his last seven for that matter. Rask stopped 24-of-27 in Friday’s victory over New York, and comes into play with a .923 save percentage over his last seven appearances. Rask has four wins, .918 save percentage, and a 1.97 goals against average in five career games against the Oilers. And it’s worth noting that a strong showing should finally bump Rask’s season save percentage (which currently sits at an .899 and rising) up over .900.
Edmonton counters with Anders Nilsson for the third straight game. Nilsson took the loss in spite of a 23-of-25 showing in Toronto on Monday night, and enters play with five wins and a .912 save percentage in 13 games for the Oilers this season. The 25-year-old has struggled at home this year, too, with two wins and a woeful .874 save percentage in five games this season. This will be Nilsson’s first career start against the Bruins, though he did skate in a 40-minute mop-up role against the Bruins once before, stopping 14-of-17 shots in what was his NHL debut on Nov. 19, 2011.
- B’s winger Brad Marchand has six goals and nine points in nine road games this year.
- Jimmy Hayes has scored just once in his last 14 games.
- Boston center Patrice Bergeron has points in all but four of 22 games played this season.
- Edmonton’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been held pointless in five of his last eight games.
- Taylor Hall has five goals and 15 points in 10 games at Rexall Place this season.
Other news and notes
The Bruins have officially activated Kevan Miller (upper-body) off injured reserve. Miller, who has one goal and five points in 17 games for the Bruins this season, has missed the last five games. Boston has gone 5-0-0 in his absence, and outscored opponents 17-to-10 over that stretch.
Forward Max Talbot was reassigned to Providence earlier this week, so expect Tyler Randell to sit out as Boston’s healthy scratch along with d-man Joe Morrow.
David Pastrnak (foot) did not accompany the Bruins on the trip.
Ty Anderson has been covering the National Hockey League for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, has been a member of the Boston Chapter of the Pro Hockey Writers Association since 2013, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com.