The two division leaders in the Eastern Conference meet tonight in Boston when the Bruins (15-6-2) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (15-9-0).
It’s the second meeting of the season between the teams; the first, on Oct. 30, was a 3-2 victory for the Pens.
“We didn’t play to our identity,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said following that defeat. “We didn’t play a heavy game for two periods tonight. We had to play three periods like we did in the third and that wasn’t the case.”
The B’s, of course, swept the Pens in last year’s playoffs, outscoring them 12-2 in the four games combined.
“I think we’ve all turned the page,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said today, per NHL.com. “It’s something that we’ll hopefully learn from. But I think we’re all moving on and making sure that we learn from it.”
Fun fact: If the Pens were in the Western Conference, they wouldn’t be in a playoff position. The Bruins would be, but only barely, based on regulation/overtime wins.
Related: Seidenberg at morning skate; Rask to start (CSN New England)