Boston Bruins: 3 Questions Tonight Against the Devils

2. Are the Devils just what the Bruins’ power play needs to get going?

Entering the game, the Devils have the 31st-ranked penalty-killing unit at 67.7-percent (%) and they could be what the Boston power play needs as they are in a rare funk with the man advantage. The Bruins have dropped to eighth in the NHL on the PP at 27.3 %.

The Bruins have failed to score a power play goal in their last four games (0-for-11) and have not scored one since Bergeron’s game-winning goal in overtime on Feb. 3 in a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Surprisingly the Black and Gold have gone 3-1 in those four games without a man-up goal, but clearly getting the power play going is something they need to do. The power play is a big part of what makes them go and before they hit the road for four more games, it would be in their best interest to take advantage of the New Jersey PK.

3. Can the Bruins solve Mackenzie Blackwood?

In the first two games between the teams, Blackwood frustrated the Bruins between the pipes for the Devils. He stopped 62 of the 65 shots he faced against Boston, allowing just power play goals to Ritchie and Marchand and a shorthanded tally to Bergeron.

Blackwood, who made 37 saves in Tuesday night’s 5-2 win over the New York Rangers in the Devils’first game in 15 days, is 3-0-1 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage. He is a big reason NJ’s 5-3-2 start through their first 10 games.

The Bruins will look to bounce back from their loss to the Islanders five nights ago before they head back out on the road for four more games.