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Causeway gameday! Boston Bruins in an opening night rematch

ByChad Zimmermann|
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Boston Bruins left wing Anders Bjork (10) waits for the puck during an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on October 5, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Predators 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 05: Boston Bruins left wing Anders Bjork (10) waits for the puck during an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on October 5, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Predators 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Watch out folks, the Boston Bruins are getting healthy and they’re playing good hockey.  The team that couldn’t win back-to-back games is on a roll.

Many of the Boston Bruins fans (your author included) were starting to get a bit restless about this season.  The team was playing like garbage against bad teams.  Tuukka Rask was bring hung out to dry on a nightly basis.  In his defense’s defense, he wasn’t exactly playing stellar hockey either.

But the Bruins are probably one of the hottest teams in hockey right now.  The Bruins have won 6 out of their last 7 games.  The team is one point out of a playoff spot, with several games in hand over the teams in front of them.  Biggest factor?  The team’s health.

Four top-6 forwards returned last week, and helped propel the team to a 2-0 record with wins over the Lightning and Flyers.  Hoping to continue that momentum, the Bruins head to the home of country music, Nashville, to take on the defending Western Conference champion Predators.

Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 05: Teammates congratulate Boston Bruins right defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) during an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Nashville Predators on October 5, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Predators 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

For those just joining us, this will be the second matchup between these two teams.  The Bruins opened the season with a 4-3 victory against the Predators in Boston.  This game, despite being a win, was a window into the inconsistency that was going to plague the Bruins through the first quarter of the season.  The recap of that game can be read here, for anyone interested.

Schedule

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The game tonight will be taking place in the Central Time Zone, meaning puck drop is at 8:00 pm tonight.  The game will be broadcast on NESN for the local viewers, and 98.5 The Sports Hub for the local listeners.

What to watch for

Is Tuukka Rask back?  Well, last week he won back-to-back games over the powerful Lightning and the scuttling Flyers.  The team FINALLY played well in front of him in both games, which allowed him to settle in and play his game.  But, it’s Anton Khudobin who will take the crease tonight, trying to continue his hot-hand.  If he can stay hot, and Rask gets him game back, they could be quite the tandem.

The Bruins looked like a complete hockey team on Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers.  I always knew that this team, when fully healthy, would be something to watch.  Looking at this lineup, it will be interesting to see what happens when Jake DeBrusk comes back.  Who sits?  Everyone else has been contributing in one way or another.  And when McQuaid is healthy, another tough call.  Matt Grzelcyk has played solid hockey.

Next: Bruins Week 9: Good when healthy

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