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Boston Bruins Causeway Gameday! Bruins in Oil Country

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 26: Edmonton Oilers left wing Milan Lucic (27) moved away from Boston Bruins right defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) by linesman Ryan Galloway (82) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers on November 26, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Oilers defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 26: Edmonton Oilers left wing Milan Lucic (27) moved away from Boston Bruins right defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) by linesman Ryan Galloway (82) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers on November 26, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Oilers defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tuesday has already been a big day for the Boston Bruins, coming off a win and making their first trade of 2018.  What’s on tap for Tuesday evening?

The Boston Bruins are very quickly making their way through Alberta.  After a tough, grinding 2-1 overtime victory in yesterday’s matinee, courtesy of a Brad Marchand breakaway goal, the team packed their gear and headed north.  After passing through Red Deer, they find themselves in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta.

Around midday, Bruins fans phones and Twitter accounts were blown up with the following announcement:

Now, this post is about tonight’s game in Edmonton, but I think I speak for many when I say this:  “Hmmmmm, okay, I guess.”  Not a huge splash of a deal, and the team isn’t exactly bringing someone in to contribute right away (unless there’s a trade in the works for Torey Krug or Matt Grzelcyk, which is MY assumption).  But defense wins championships, so if one of our left-handed defenseman goes down, Nick Holden, I guess you’re our guy.

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Talk about two teams headed in different directions.  The Boston Bruins (36-13-8, 80 points) are flirting with the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.  The Edmonton Oilers (24-30-4, 52 points) were may people’s pick to be the 2017-2018 Stanley Cup Champion (including yours truly).  But the Oilers are 3-6-1 in their last 10 games, and their playoff chances are sinking faster than Uncle Bucky’s canoe in the North Saskatchewan River.

Schedule

It’s another late one folks.  I sure hope you all didn’t stay up to watch the Vancouver game the other night, only to be disappointed by the dud of a performance the team put on.  Tonight’s game is scheduled for a 9:00 pm puck drop at the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  The game can be found on NESN for the local New England viewers, and on 98.5 The Sports Hub for the listeners.

What to watch for

The top line is at it again.  David Pastrnak got off the schneid last game in Calgary.  Off a great wall battle by MY Hart Trophy winner, Patrice Bergeron, Pastrnak snapped home his first goal in 5 games.  Anyone else think Bruce Cassidy’s message was received.  Oh, and like said previously, Marchand did Marchand-things, but ending the game in OT on a breakaway.  Ho-hum.

Don’t sleep on the Oilers.  They still have the best player in the NHL in Connor McDavid, who is (somehow quietly) putting together a Hart Trophy caliber season of his own.  On a team having a rough season, McDavid has 23 goals and 46 assists, tied for 3rd in the NHL with 69 points, and he sports a +13 rating.  Not too mention, he has Leon Draisaitl, the player whose signing caused a lot of issues in the Pastrnak contract negotiations.  Plus, the Oilers already beat the Bruins this season, in Boston no-less.

Next: Boston Bruins' Matt Grzelcyk is underrated

Kevan Miller is healthy, but remains out.  Only lineup change for tonight is Anton Khduobin suiting up, given Tuukka Rask’s start yesterday and today being the 2nd leg of a back-to-back.  Here’s hoping the team brought their skating legs with them from Calgary, because fast-pace is going to be the name of the game tonight.

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