Brad Marchand Returns For Wednesday Night Rivalry

8 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 98.5 FM The Sports Hub

Season Series/Schedule
Date      Game                                    GWG
11/8       BOS 2 @ NYR 4                  Jimmy Vesey
12/16     NYR 3 @ BOS 2 OT           Mats Zuccarello
2/7         BOS @ NYR        

Team Leaders
Bruins                                                                                   Rangers
Brad Marchand, 50                          Points                   Mats Zuccarello, 38
Patrice Bergeron, 22                       Goals                    Michael Grabner, 21

Marchand/Pastrnak, 29                 Assists                  Mats Zuccarello, 30

Exactly one year ago today, the Boston Bruins named Bruce Cassidy head coach and they have gone 50-19-9 since, for a .699 points percentage. The Bruins will travel to the New York Rangers tonight, a team Cassidy has yet to beat as Bruins head coach going 0-2-1 against them.

This is not the same Rangers team that beat the Bruins in November and December.  A combination of injuries and overall poor defensive plays have New York falling out of the playoff race and rumored to be big sellers before the February 26 trade deadline.  The Rangers have just three wins over their last 10 games and are now three points out of a wild card spot.

The Bruins will gladly mix up their lines tonight as leading scorer Brad Marchand will return after serving his five-game suspension.  The team went 4-1-0 in his absence, including winning the last three.  Frank Vatrano is expected to come out of the lineup to make room for Marchand's return.

Anton Khudobin will start in goal for the Bruins tonight and is likely to be opposed by Henrik Lundqvist.

Probable Bruins Lineup
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Ryan Spooner
Danton Heinen - Riley Nash - David Backes
Tim Schaller - Sean Kuraly - Austin Czarnik

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - Adam McQuaid

GOALTENDER
Anton Khudobin (10-3-4, 2.36 GAA, .924 save %, 1 SO)

INJURY REPORT
C-Noel Acciari (lower-body) out, LW-Anders Bjork (upper-body) out, D-Kevan Miller (upper-body) out

Probable Rangers Lineup
FORWARDS
Rick Nash - Mika Zibanejad - Mats Zuccarello
J.T. Miller - David Desharnais - Vinni Lettieri
Michael Grabner - Kevin Hayes - Jesper Fast
Cody McLeod - Peter Holland - Paul Carey

DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Ryan McDonagh - Anthony DeAngelo
Brady Skjei - Nick Holden
Brendan Smith - Steve Kampfer

GOALTENDER
Henrik Lundqvist (21-16-4, 2.70 GAA, .919 save %, 2 SO)

INJURY REPORT
LW-Chris Kreider (blood clot) out, D-Kevin Shattenkirk (knee) out, RW-Pavel Buchnevich (concussion) out, LW-Jimmy Vesey (concussion) out, D-Marc Staal (cervical strain) out