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  • Game Day Preview: Bruins vs. Stars

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    Game Day Preview: Bruins vs. Stars

    Chris Chirichiello February 10, 2015
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    If losing another game to the Montreal Canadiens wasn’t enough for the Boston Bruins, the city was bombarded with another two feet of snow the next day (again). The Habs swept the season series 4-0 and outscored the Black and Gold 16-6 in the process which is just unacceptable for Claude Julien’s team.

    On Boston.Com: Bruins’ struggles against Habs a major concern

    Tonight, the hometown team turns their attention to Tyler Seguin (a game time decision due to the flu) and the Dallas Stars. The Bruins won the only season meeting on January 20th 3-1 when Tuukka Rask made 36 saves. Former Stars forward Loui Eriksson scored in the game on a beautiful no look pass from Carl Soderberg to tie the game at 1-1 before Gregory Campbell scored just before the second period ended to give the B’s a 2-1 lead. Dougie Hamilton added an insurance power-play goal in the third to seal the victory.

    The B’s special teams played a major role on this night as they were a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill while producing a power-play goal of their own.

    Brad Marchand did not play in the first match up due to his two game suspension, but he will be in the lineup tonight against friend Seguin.

    The Stars own a solid record away from home sporting a 13-10-2 record while the B’s own a 17-8-4 record at TD Garden, but dropping their last match Sunday night.

    Niklas Svedberg will be between the pipes tonight for the Black and Gold giving Tuukka Rask his first break in 11 games.

    Here is your complete Bruins-Stars preview:

    Gametime: 7:00 PM
    Records: Bruins 28-18-7 (63 points)/Stars 24-21-8 (56 points)
    TV/Radio: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
    Location: TD Garden

    Bruins’ projected lines:

    Milan Lucic-David Krejci-David Pastrnak
    Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Reilly Smith
    Chris Kelly-Carl Soderberg-Loui Eriksson
    Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Craig Cunningham

    Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton
    Dennis Seidenberg-Adam McQuaid
    Torey Krug-Kevan Miller

    Niklas Svedberg
    Tuukka Rask

    Stars’ projected lines:

    Jamie Benn-Tyler Seguin-Brett Ritchie
    Erik Cole-Jason Spezza-Ales Hemsky
    Antoine Roussel-Cody Eakin-Ryan Garbutt
    Shawn Horcoff-Vernon Fiddler-Patrick Eaves

    Alex Goligoski-John Klingberg
    Jyrki Jokipakka-Trevor Daley
    Jordie Benn-Jason Demers

    Kari Lehtonen
    Anders Lindback

    Who to watch for Bruins: Zdeno Chara

    It is not many times one can say that Chara had a rough night at the office, but on Sunday night the Canadiens exposed him pretty badly. The Habs were using their speed to beat the 6’9’’ defenseman to the puck time and time again. The 37 year-old may have been a little under the weather, but he will tell you himself that is not an excuse.

    Sunday night versus the Habs, Chara had two shots on net and was on the ice for two goals scored, both essentially his responsibility. On the first one, he lost track of Dale Weise who slipped back door to tap in a rebound and on the second one, there was a miscommunication with Dougie Hamilton leading to a Max Pacioretty breakaway goal.

    There is no doubt that Chara will bounce back Tuesday night.

    Who to watch for Stars: Jason Spezza

    With much of the attention always on Seguin when these two teams meet, Spezza cannot be forgotten either. The 31 year-old has 10 goals and 31 assists on the season ranking him third on the Stars in points.

    In the Stars latest victory, Spezza contributed with one goal and two assists to go along with a plus-2 rating against the New York Rangers. Over his last 10 games, the centerman has three goals and eight assists picking up the slack for the almost invisible Seguin who over the past month has four goals in his last 17 games.

    In 53 career games played against the B’s, Spezza has great success. He has 18 goals and 30 assists including six power-play goals and three game-winners (with Dallas and Ottawa).

    Of course Seguin is the name most frequently talked about, but Julien and company cannot forget to contain Spezza as well.

    Game Day Edge: Short term memory

    The B’s know they were outplayed yet again from their hated rival – the Canadiens – Sunday night at TD Garden, but they have no time to dwell on that loss. The Stars are in town and they play a similar style of hockey – fast.

    Julien needs to remind his team to worry about the opponent tonight and not think about the fact they were swept by the Habs. Just turn the page.

    With Rask getting a breather for the first time in 11 games, the game plan and style of hockey shouldn’t change. Svedberg is more than capable of doing the job for the Black and Gold. He is 5-5 this season with two shutouts.

    Back from his conditioning loan from the Baby B’s, Svedberg should be ready to go and so should his teammates with somewhat of a chip on their shoulder.

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