The Boston Bruins (3-4-0, six points) host the San Jose Sharks (4-1-1, nine points) Tuesday night at TD Garden. Here’s what to watch for:
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY: The Bruins are coming off a successful 2-1-0 road trip. This will be the first of two games between the Bruins and Sharks this season, with tonight being the lone game at TD Garden. Boston is 1-2-0 on home ice. The Sharks lost for the first time in regulation this season when the New York Rangers won 4-0 Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Tonight’s game in Boston ends a five-game road trip for San Jose.
CLOSE CALLS: The Bruins won both games against the Sharks last season. On Oct 24, 2013, David Krejci scored in the final second of regulation to give Boston a 2-1 win at TD Garden. On Jan. 11, a third-period goal by Carl Soderberg gave the Bruins a 1-0 win in San Jose. “Two tight games last year,” said Bruins forward Milan Lucic. “You look at the way they’ve started the season this year and they’re one of the top teams once again. It’s always been a tough game for us every time we’ve played the Sharks.” The Bruins hold a 16-9-5-0 all-time record against the Sharks.
CONTINUAL TWEAKING: In the first seven games of the season, Bruins coach Claude Julien has tweaked his line combinations and defensive pairings more than he normally would like to, and that appears to be the case again for tonight. At least to start the game, it appears he will have Seth Griffith on the right side, along with David Krejci in the middle and Lucic on the left wing. Julien has used veteran forward Simon Gagne on the top line, but he will likely start back on the fourth line with Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille. That means Matt Fraser could be the healthy scratch. Griffith was a healthy scratch in Buffalo on Saturday and was sent back to Providence of the AHL for Sunday’s P-Bruins game. He returned to Boston for Monday’s practice and he’ll start on the Bruins’ top line again tonight.
“Seth has done a pretty good job of stepping in and doing what he does,” Lucic said. “You can see he’s got great hands, great vision and he’s got a great shot as well, and it’s just a matter of time before they start going in.”
Griffith, a second-year pro, remains without a point in three games for the Bruins this season. On Thursday against the Canadiens in Montreal, he had a few quality scoring chances but couldn’t capitalize.
MASKED MEN: Tuukka Rask will start for the Bruins. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner is 2-3-0, with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .870 save percentage in five games this season. He is 2-0-0, including one shutout in two career starts against the Sharks. San Jose will have Antti Niemi between the pipes tonight. He’s 3-0-0, including one shutout, a 2.27 GAA and a .933 SP in three games this season. He owns a 5-2-0 career record against the Bruins in seven games.