The Bruins will try to slow down Connor McDavid while putting a few pucks in the net themselves as they try to halt a six-game losing streak.<\/b>
\nThe Bruins will be going with the same lineup against Edmonton as they try to snap their six-game losing streak in a New Year\u2019s Eve matchup against Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the rest of the Oilers.
The B\u2019s have managed just one goal in each of their last two games and six in their last four, but coach Marco Sturm is still concerned with the defensive zone first.
\u201cThat\u2019s sometimes how it goes, but we still are very confident that we can score goals. I think the one thing we want to make is to have less goals against. I think that was the biggest message on the other side of it,\u201d Sturm told reporters in Edmonton. \u201cThe goals will come if we play good defense. I do believe in that. Don\u2019t forget, the power play didn\u2019t score for a couple of games. There\u2019s different reasons, but I\u2019m not worried about it. I know we have to get into the tough areas. We know that. We know the power play needs to pick it up.\u201d
The B\u2019s need more from their star players. David Pastrnak has 2-1-3 totals in his last six games and Morgan Geekie has not scored a goal in his last four games, his longest goalless streak of the season.
Geekie said the lighthearted start to Tuesday\u2019s practice, with all the players on the ice at once essentially playing two scrimmages, can help.
\u201cEverybody puts a lot of pressure on themselves in situations like this,\u201d Geekie said. \u201cIt\u2019s guys\u2019 livelihoods at the end of the day and everyone\u2019s got a job. When you don\u2019t perform it, it weighs on a lot of guys. To be able lift the mood a little bit, it helps. So you just keep it simple and rely on what you know.\u201d
While they need to score some goals, the B\u2019s might want to keep an eye on that McDavid guy. He\u2019s got 33 points (13-20) in his last 13 games.
Puck drop is a little after 9:30 p.m ET. Also, Tanner Jeannot continued to skate in a red non-contact jersey but Sturm did not venture an estimate for a return.<\/p>\n