With the new year upon us, the Boston Bruins head into their first game of 2017 with a chance to surpass the Ottawa Senators – who are on their mandated bye-week – for second place in the Atlantic Division before the weekend. Their first chance to do that comes tonight in their second matchup of the season with the Devils.

Fresh off a home and home sweep of the Sabres, the Bruins have a little momentum heading into the new year. Like they did against Buffalo, the B’s will look to take care of business against a team beneath them in the standings as the Devils come in with a 4-8-3 mark in their last 15.

The Devils should have some good news tonight as Taylor Hall skated this morning and expects to return after missing the last two games with a lower-body injury. The former Oiler, who missed eight games earlier in the year due to a knee injury, ranks second on the team in points with 23 (8 goals, 15 assists) in just 27 games.

In his first game of 2016-17, Patrice Bergeron returned in style when he scored the game-winner against the Devils during the B’s 2-1 win in their TD Garden opener. After arguably the worst offensive start of his career, the Bruins assistant captain has three goals in his last five games that include tallies in back to back games.

Gametime: 7:00 p.m.
TV/Radio: NESN/98.5 The Sports Hub
Records: Bruins 20-15-4 (44 points), Devils 14-16-7 (35 points)
Location: Prudential Center

Bruins projected lines

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak
Ryan Spooner-David Krejci-Frank Vatrano
Tim Schaller-Austin Czarnik-Riley Nash
Anton Blidh-Dominic Moore-Jimmy Hayes

Zdeno Chara-Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Kevan Miller-Colin Miller

Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin

Devils projected lines

Michael Cammalleri-Adam Henrique-Kyle Palmieri
Taylor Hall-Sergey Kalinin-PA Parenteau
Miles Wood-Pavel Zacha-Nick Lappin
Beau Bennett-Devante Smith-Pelly-Luke Gadzic

Andy Greene-Ben Lovejoy
Jon Merill-Steven Santini
Damon Severson-Kyle Quincey

Cory Schneider
Keith Kinkaid

Tonight’s storylines

– Whether he’s showcasing his trade value or giving the Bruins a reason to keep him, Ryan Spooner comes into tonight’s game carrying a five-game point streak. The 24-year-old has seven points in that span and is getting more comfortable at left wing after playing center for most of his early career. Spooner was a healthy scratch the last time these two teams played and has three points in as many games in his career vs. the Devils.

– With Spooner, Bergeron, Krejci and Frank Vatrano all finding the net as of late, the team’s leading goal-scorer is going through his worst statistic slump of the year. David Pastrnak has gone six straight games without lighting the lamp, which is a season long for the 20-year-old. The Bruins’ first round pick in 2014 hasn’t lit the lamp since December 14 in Pittsburgh but is still creating chances firing 23 shots during his drought. Even with the skid, Pastrnak still finds himself in the top five in the league in goals with 19 – tied for fourth with Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine.