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Causeway gameday! Boston Bruins in Jaws territory tonight

Chad Zimmermann|
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 26: San Jose Sharks left wing Joonas Donskoi (27) is held back from Boston Bruins center David Backes (42) by linesman Matt McPherson (83) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks on October 26, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Sharks 2-1. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 26: San Jose Sharks left wing Joonas Donskoi (27) is held back from Boston Bruins center David Backes (42) by linesman Matt McPherson (83) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the San Jose Sharks on October 26, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Sharks 2-1. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Boston Bruins are coming off what can only be classified as a character win over the LA Kings.  Big things happen in the Bruins locker room after the game, however.

Well, the Boston Bruins are back to .500 after their victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.  The win was obviously encouraging because it came over one of the elite teams in the Western Conference.  It was also a great game in the physicality department, as the team played some hard nosed hockey.

Boston Bruins
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 16: Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy (73) hits Los Angeles Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli (73) during the game on November 16, 2017, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tonight’s game in San Jose against a hot Sharks team (7-3-0 in their last 10 games) marks the end of a 3 game California roadie.  Game 1 in Anaheim was an oddity, because the Bruins outplayed the Ducks but lost 4-2.  Game 2 was Thursday night’s win in LA.  So despite the 1-1-0 record on the trip thus far, the team has played some pretty good hockey this week.

One of the Sharks 3 losses in their last 10 games came in Boston against the Bruins on October 26.  In that game, Danton Heinen did all of the scoring needed, netting his 1st and 2nd career goals, outscoring the Sharks on his own in the Bs 2-1 win.

Schedule

I cannot wait for the Bruins to make it back to the East Coast.  These 10:30 pm puck drop games are killing me.  At least it’s Saturday night and I don’t have to work tomorrow.  My sincerest apologies to anyone who does.  The game in the SAP Center tonight in San Jose, CA will be broadcast on NESN for the locals, and on the airwaves at 98.5 The Sports Hub.

What to watch for

I didn’t think it would happen.  I said it might, and at one point I said it might be in the team’s best interest.  But it looks like Anton Khudobin has edged out Tuukka Rask in the goaltending department in Boston.  It very well could just be temporary, a way to try to get a competitive fire lit under Rask.  But after his performance on Thursday, Khudobin has been named tonight’s starter.

While numbers don’t always tell the whole picture, they also don’t lie.  Rask is 3-7-2 with a .897 save percentage and a 2.89 GAA; Khudobin is 4-0-2 with a .928 and a 2.35 GAA.  Khudobin’s numbers are starting goalie material, and Rask’s are not.  It’s that simple.  And head coach Bruce Cassidy and Rask himself know it:

Next: Heinen shines in win over Sharks

No word yet from the team about the status of Torey Krug who was dinged up earlier in the trip.  With Marchand and Bjork on IR, they will definitely not be making an appearance on this road trip as it concludes tonight.  With Krejci back, however, at least some off the Bruins injury woes are letting up.

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