Boston Bruins Look to Even the Score

The Boston Bruins look for their fourth win in their last five games, as they travel to New Jersey tonight to take on the third place Devils, who have already clinched a playoff spot.

A win tonight would put the black and gold one point ahead of the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference—in sixth place—and tied with the New York Rangers with 93 points. Plus, the win AND a Carolina loss tonight, will clinch them a playoff spot.

The B's are still without leading scorer-and captain Marc Savard, so they are counting on red-hot David Krejci to continue his stellar play tonight. Krejci is in the midst of a four-game point streak, racking up three goals and five assists during that span. 

Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is 6-1-0 in his last seven starts against the Bruins, with a 1.84 GAA, so the B's certainly have their work cut out for them.

Tim Thomas should get the start in net tonight, as backup netminder Alex Auld started Sunday in an overtime loss to the Sabres.  That snapped a three-game winning streak, but the B's walked away with that all-important point to stay in the playoff hunt.

Thomas has been playing exceptionally well as of late. He has won his last three starts, including a shutout in his last start against division rivals, Ottawa Senators. He has arguably been the MVP of the Bruins this season, especially with all the injuries that has plagued the squad this year.

When starting goaltender Manny Fernandez went down for the season, Thomas stepped up and solidified his No. 1 status, while making his first All-Star appearance. 

While the Devils don't have to worry anymore about a playoff berth, the Bruins are still looking for all the points they can muster, starting tonight. The Devils won two of three meetings against the Bruins this season, so the Hub of Hockey will definitely be looking to even the score.

Boston really needs this win tonight, to get out of seventh place, and move up the standings. After all, if the playoffs started today, the B's would be facing the Montreal Canadiens. Need I say more?