After winning four of their first six games of the season, the Boston Bruins hit the road on Tuesday night to begin a four-game road trip that has three stops in California and one in Texas.
If there is any good news, it's that defenseman Charlie McAvoy is slated to return to the lineup on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks. If you're a Bruins fan living back on the East Coast and you want to watch his return from his six-game suspension, you'll have to stay up late until at least 11 p.m. It's the last of 16 NHL games tonight, with each team playing at staggered start times beginning at 6 p.m. EST with ESPN's Frozen Frenzy.
While it's a great idea, having Boston play at 11 p.m. EST in Northern California is a less-than-ideal decision if we're being honest. Maybe when planning out this schedule and event, put each team as close to or in their fanbase's home time zone. Anyway, the NHL gave the Black and Gold a matchup on the road against a team that has their number, the Sharks.
Bruins are looking for rare success against the Sharks on Tuesday night
The timing is good for the Bruins to be getting McAvoy back with them, facing a San Jose team that has won three straight against Boston, including both games last season. Last season, the Sharks won a close game at home before rolling to a win over the Black and Gold at TD Garden. This season, the two games won't be any easier.
This is the first of two matchups between the two clubs in their only meetings of the season. San Jose will visit TD Garden on Oct. 24. It will be the final stop on a six-game road trip that includes five Atlantic Division teams.
As for Tuesday night's game and, really, next weekend's game, San Jose is an up-and-coming team that general manager Mike Greer, has slowly built into a team that is ready to burst into the Western Conference playoff race next spring and be a factor. Their young talent was on display last season when they took both games from Boston, and they have one quick-rising young star in the league in former Boston University standout Macklin Celebrini.
If Boston is going to have success this time around, they are going to have to play a heavy system, keep the games low-scoring, and get some production from their power play. Points are going to be at a premium this season in the Eastern Conference, and going all out for four against a Western Conference team is a must.
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